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Some attorneys are good at what they do. Some athletes perform at the highest level. And then there is Clete Blakeman, a man who has spent decades doing both simultaneously at the very top of two of the most demanding and high-pressure professions in the country.
This July, the American Board of Trial Advocates is honored to feature Clete as a featured speaker at the 2026 ABOTA National Board Meeting. Clete will take the stage alongside Detroit legend and four-time NBA champion John Salley. Together, they will share their perspectives on leadership, discipline, resilience, and what it really means to perform at the highest level, whether that stage is a courtroom, a football field, or a championship arena.
If you have not had the chance to hear Clete speak or learn about his extraordinary career, consider this your introduction.
From Nebraska Quarterback to NFL Referee
Before his legal career, Clete was a three-year letterman at quarterback for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Husker football team. Following his collegiate career, he transitioned to officiating at the college level and, in 2008, was selected to join the National Football League as an on-field game official.
The pinnacle of that journey came in February 2016, when Clete was selected as referee for Super Bowl 50 between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers, one of the most-watched sporting events in the world. It was a moment that cemented his place among the most accomplished officials in the history of the NFL.
A 36-Year Record of Fighting for the Injured
Away from the football field, Clete has built an equally impressive reputation in the courtroom. As an Omaha personal injury attorney, Clete is personally and professionally committed to the success of every one of his clients, sought out and specifically selected to represent seriously injured people and the families of individuals who have been killed as a result of the negligence of others. With 36 years of experience, Clete has earned the respect and trust of his community.
He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, an honor recognizing his commitment to professionalism and ethics in legal representation, and a standing member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum in honor of his major individual results, including verdicts, settlements, and awards totaling over one million dollars on behalf of his clients.
Two Worlds, One Mindset
What makes Clete such a compelling speaker is not just what he has accomplished; it is how clearly the two worlds he inhabits inform each other. In a recent episode of The Inner Circle with Gil Cohen, Clete explained how his legal training sharpens his ability to evaluate situations quickly on the football field, and how officiating, with its constant pressure, split-second decisions, and public accountability, has made him a better, more focused attorney.
The preparation behind every NFL game, the communication with players and coaches, the ability to make the right call under pressure in front of millions of people, all of it translates directly into what it takes to walk into a courtroom and fight for a client whose life has been turned upside down.
Championship experience. Courtroom results. Free consultation. No fees unless we win.
If you've been injured, call Clete Blakeman at Carlson & Blakeman, LLP by calling (402) 858-0996.