Two men walk by a Super Bowl logo reflected in a mirror in the Phoenix Convention Center. Phoenix on Wednesday was awash in symbols of the Super Bowl, which will be held Sunday.

Phoenix ? Mike Carey will head the officiating crew for Sunday’s Super Bowl between the Giants and Patriots on Sunday, the first black referee at a Super Bowl.

The NFL confirmed Wednesday an Associated Press report two weeks ago that Carey will head the crew, which also includes two other black officials, line judge Carl Johnson and field judge Boris Cheek.

The rest of the crew: umpire Tony Michalek; head linesman Gary Slaughter; side judge Larry Rose and back judge Scott Helverson. Ken Baker will be the replay assistant.

Carey, in his 18th season as an NFL official, was the alternate referee in the 2002 Super Bowl between the Patriots and the St. Louis Rams. He also was the referee of the first game between the Giants and Patriots, the season finale won by the Patriots 38-35 to wrap up their unbeaten regular season.