Over the last few years, the NFL has been diversifying its game-day officiating crews, opening the door for more talented individuals to don the zebra stripes on Sundays.
One of the trailblazers of that movement, Sarah Thomas, is entering her 10th season as an NFL official. How did Thomas become one of the first, and what is her role now?
Who Is Sarah Thomas?
For Thomas, sports have been a central part of her life for decades. Her athletic journey began in high school, where she earned five varsity letters in softball before receiving a basketball scholarship to the University of Mobile. After graduating, she took a brief hiatus from sports to work in the pharmaceutical industry, eventually finding her way into football.
She began her football officiating career in 1999 as a high school varsity referee. In 2006, she attended an officials camp hosted by Gerry Austin, the then-coordinator of officials for Conference USA.
In 2007, Thomas broke new ground by becoming the first woman to officiate a major college football game, overseeing a matchup between Memphis and Jacksonville State. By the 2009 season, she was one of only five women officiating collegiate games and the first to officiate a bowl game.
Thomas took her first significant step into the professional ranks in 2010, officiating several United Football League games, including the league’s championship.
How Long Has Thomas Worked as an NFL Referee?
In April 2015, the NFL announced that Thomas would become the league’s first female official. Prior to this, she had gained experience working offseason practices and scrimmages for the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts in 2013.
Thomas made her regular-season debut as a line judge in a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans, serving on now-retired referee Pete Morelli’s crew.
Former Saints head coach Sean Payton, who had seen Thomas in action during a training camp session, endorsed her appointment. “She’s ready,” he told ESPN in 2015. “She’s gonna do well. We’ve watched her grow, and she’s gonna be outstanding. She’s got the right demeanor; she’s sharp.”
Since her confirmation by former NFL VP of Officiating Dean Blandino, Thomas has steadily advanced in her officiating career. After several seasons as a line judge, she transitioned to the down judge position in 2017. This role, formerly known as “head linesman,” was renamed to reflect a more gender-neutral title.
The First Woman To Officiate in the Super Bowl
Aiming to achieve even greater success, Thomas reached a significant milestone in her officiating career when she was selected to officiate in Super Bowl 55 in 2021 — becoming the first woman ever to do so.
It is an achievement that not only opens doors for more women in officiating but also across the entire NFL.
The league now has several women in coaching roles, including assistant defensive line coach Lori Locust (Tennessee Titans), director of rehabilitation/performance coach Maral Javadifar (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), assistant wide receivers coach Callie Brownson (Cleveland Browns), assistant running backs coach Jennifer King (Washington/Chicago Bears), offensive quality control coach Angela Baker (New York Giants), and sports performance coach Autumn Lockwood (Philadelphia Eagles).
Today, Thomas is still on the NFL’s officiating roster. She’s listed as a down judge, wearing jersey No. 53. She may no longer be the only female NFL referee, as she’s been joined by Maia Chaka on the professional stage — but she’ll always be the first.
