Sarah Thomas to Become First Woman to Officiate NFL Game: ‘Just Another Official’

Line Judge Sarah Thomas #53 stands on the field during the NFL game between the Chicago Bears and the Denver Broncos at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois on Nov. 22, 2015. Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Sarah Thomas will become the first women to ever officiate an NFL playoff game when she steps onto a field on Jan. 13.

According to the NFL officiating blog, Thomas earned her first on-field postseason assignment, making her the first woman to do so. In 2018, Thomas was chosen as an alternate for one game but never made it to the field.

She'll be part of the officiating crew for the San Diego Chargers-New England Patriots game Sunday.

Besides being an official, Thomas is a sales representative. Most NFL officials have day jobs; the referee, or top official for Sunday’s game, is an attorney.

Prior to moving into the NFL, Thomas broke several firsts in other leagues. She was the first woman to officiate a major college football game and the first woman to officiate in a Big Ten stadium.

Thomas of Mobile, Missippi, is a down judge. According to NFL Operations, a down judge stands on the side of the field near the sideline and has several responsibilities, including directing the crew that moves the chains, or the big yardstick.

The down judge also watches for offside and encroachment penalties, informs the referee of the current down, and rules on sideline plays on the nearest half of the field.

During the plays, the down judge determines when and if the runner is out of bounds, marks the runner’s forward progress (where the runner ended his run), watches for pass interference, and monitors the nearest receiver for the first seven yards.

Line Judge Sarah Thomas #53 watches as the St. Louis Rams and Cleveland Browns warm up prior to a game at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri on Oct. 25, 2015. Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

Thomas Talks Officiating

When hired as the first female referee in the pro football league’s history in 2015, Thomas said that she was surprised.

“I was speechless,” the mother-of-three told reporters, according to CNN. She said she was honored to be considered a “trailblazer” for female officials but said she was focused on being the best official she could be.

“I’ve just been doing this truly because I love it,” she said. “The guys don’t think of me as a female, they see me as just another official.”

While Thomas will be the first woman to officiate a playoff game, Shannon Eastin was the first woman to officiate an NFL game when she filled in as a line judge for three games in 2012, the network said.

Dean Blandino, NFL vice president of officiating, said that officials had had an eye on Thomas for nine years.

“This is not something that happened overnight,” he said. “This is a testament to her and what she’s accomplished.”

Thomas attended a ceremony at the school she graduated from, Pascagoula High School, when it renamed its gym after her in 2016.

“There was a lot of pressure being the first, but I didn’t feel it,” Thomas said after the Pascagoula ceremony, reported The Sun Herald. “It’s a job that was a lot of fun. I never got too high. I never got too low. I learned a lot from the referee crews I worked with.

“The fans were great. Dads wanted to take pictures with me, moms and girls asked for my autograph. I never set out to be a role model,” she added.

Reaction

Many people praised Thomas upon hearing the news.

“Proud of Pascagoula homegirl Sarah Thomas. This is really cool and well deserved,” said Brandon Jones on Twitter.

“Itching to watch the game between the Chargers and the Patriots on Sunday. Not a fan of both, but I will be rooting for Sarah Thomas, who will be the first woman in history to officiate an NFL Playoff game. That’s Girl Power unfolding,” added Twitter user Jon Abu-Kpawoh.

“This is a big deal,” added Sam Rapoport, the NFL’s senior director of football development. “Did you know that our Senior VP of NFL Officiating, Al Riveron, changed the name of this position from “Head Linesman” to “Down Judge” to be inclusive of females? #progress.”

From NTD News