Meet the NFL’s first female Super Bowl official. Copyright © 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Sarah Thomas (nee Bailey; born September 21, 1973) is an American football official, currently for the National Football League (NFL), who wears uniform number 53. Callie Brownson is the chief of staff for Browns coach Kevin Stefanski and Jennifer King is the NFL's first Black female full-time assistant coach. While the league requires five years of experience at a minimum, ESPN reported that Thomas has worked four post-season games in six seasons with the league. The Mississippi native’s officiating career began in 2007 as a high school football referee. FOX 13 News. In 2015, Thomas became the first female official in the NFL and in January of 2019 she became the first woman to to officiate a game. 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Yet that's exactly what the 47-year-old is as the league's first full-time female official. Hot Italian girls and soccer go together like milk and cookies and wine and cheese. She officiated her first game on August 9, a preseason game between the Green Bay Packers and the San Diego Chargers as the Line Judge. The seven NFL officials on the field have specific roles and responsibilities that make it possible to correctly and consistently call games at football’s highest level. NFL referees and all other officials are not full-time league employees, as they technically work part-time from May through the end of each season with a dark period in between. "She understood that the rules of the game of football should be applied within the spirit of the game and not within the technical writing of the rules," Austin said. Which is a lot more than the average Female NFL Referee. The learning curve is steep when you haven't played the sport yourself. Three other women will serve as replay assistants at Art … In 2015, she became the first full-time female referee in the NFL. September 28, 2020 / 10:38 AM She did serve as head linesman in the second half of the 2018 season. To become an NFL referee, you'll need to be an expert on the rules of the game, so try to attend or play in as many football games as you can to learn the ropes. Meet Sarah Thomas, NFL's first female official Apr 17, 2015 Ashley Fox ESPN Writer It was 33 years ago, and Gerry Austin still remembers the call. In 2017, she switched to down judge, which is the position she continues to hold in 2020. Thomas has a history of firsts. Football Zebras has confirmed the referees for the Divisional Playoffs. Her first game officiating was … She Is Married & Has 3 Kids. She was hired as a replacement official in 2012 during the lockout of full-time referees which began in June. The down judge lines up on the sideline and looks directly down the line of scrimmage. He or she directs the chain crew and informs the referee of the down and also rules on sideline plays on the nearest half of the field. The Washington Football Team wrote, "We're more than proud of @JenniferKing5 and all the women who are breaking barriers in our league. "I've always (stressed) understanding the spirit of rules and don't be technical. "And she has great communication skills. She was hired in Cleveland after holding internships with the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets as a scout. ', "That's a good skill, and Sarah has that skill. There was one female coach for both teams and a female official during the Washington Football Team-Cleveland Browns game at First Energy Stadium. Courtesy of Pro Football Reference, below is Thomas' complete NFL officiating record through last season. MORE: Here's how much money NFL officials make. Thomas is now a five-year NFL officiating veteran after rising through the college ranks. I never set out to be the first in any of this," said Thomas. Below is what the down judge watches on run plays, pass plays and special teams plays. Gerry Austin, a former NFL official and the supervisor of Conference USA's officials who hired Thomas, explained to ESPN shortly after she graduated to the NFL what makes her successful in officiating. Run plays: Watches for offside or encroachment; monitors sideline; determines when/if a runner is out of bounds; marks runner's forward progress. NFL referee Sarah Thomas will become the first woman to officiate in a Super Bowl in the 55th edition on 7 February. … First published on September 28, 2020 / 10:38 AM. Special teams: Watches for offside and encroachment; rules on penalties involving blockers and defenders on trick plays. Two female coaches and a female official make NFL history by being on the field at the same time By Lauren M. Johnson , CNN Updated 4:52 PM ET, Sun September 27, 2020 Shortly after she was officially hired by the NFL in 2015, Sarah Thomas claimed in an interview with NFL Media she never set out to be a trailblazer. Sarah Thomas was the first full-time referee in the league. She has the ability to calm the coach down and to explain whatever the coach is questioning. Sarah Thomas is an NFL official who made history in 2015 when she became the first female hired as a full-time official. / CBS News. © 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. King currently works with the running backs in Washington after interning with the Carolina Panthers for two seasons. Thomas being distinguished as the first full-time female NFL official separates her from Shannon Eastin, who became the first female to officiate an NFL … More times than not, a coach just wants to vent. The Browns and the Washington Football Team tweeted about their historic encounter. Sarah Thomas is one of the best paid women referee in NFL. Proper training and positioning prepare officials to be in the right place to make the right call. Her coaching career began at her high school alma mater as an assistant coach for Mount Vernon in Texas. There is one female NFL referee, Sarah Thomas. Three women were on the football field in an official capacity for a regular season game on Sunday, marking the first time it's ever happened in NFL history. Brownson was the first woman hired as a full-time NCAA Division I coach at Dartmouth, preceding King as their quality control coach. Coaches have confidence in Sarah's ability to officiate in our conference, and I think that's what's helped her and carried her over to where she's in the NFL.". Pass plays: Watches nearest receiver for first seven yards of his route until he is clear the point of legal contact for defensive backs; watches for pass interference. We try to give him his 15-20 seconds to vent and then ask, 'What's your question? NFL official Sarah Thomas reflects on being first woman to officiate playoff game. NFL match umpire salary ($5,000) made him highest paid among all other match officials during the game. Thomas made news in 2015 as she joined the NFL as the league's first female on-field official. In the past 7 seasons, the NFL has promoted 11 officials to the referee position. Sarah Thomas, the first permanent female referee hired by the NFL, introduced Sauer-Cook to retired NFL referee and former Monday Night Football rules … On April 8, 2015, it was officially announced by the NFL that Thomas would be the first permanent female official in NFL history, as per … An official since 1999, Thomas, 47, has worked in the NFL for six seasons. NFL Football Operations’ mission is to establish a culture of clarity, consistency and credibility in all aspects of the greatest game. "I had to learn from scratch, … She became the first female on-field official to work in the NFL playoff game on 13 January 2019. Thomas being distinguished as the first full-time female NFL official separates her from Shannon Eastin, who became the first female to officiate an NFL game when she was hired as a replacement official (line judge) during the NFL Referees Association lockout of 2012. Thomas lives in Mississippi with her husband Brian, their two boys, … TAMPA, Fla. - Sarah Thomas is pinching herself as she prepares to be part of NFL history when she takes the field as the first woman to referee the Super Bowl. In 2007, she was the first woman to work a major college football game. Shannon Eastin (born 1970) is the first female official of the National Football League (NFL). These women have broken barriers to get to this stage of the gridiron. If there's a call to be made, have the courage to make the call, and she fit within that framework. The lone NFL female referee Sarah Thomas during the Chiefs at Texans game at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas. Thomas was the first woman to officiate a major college football game, the first to officiate a bowl game, and the first to officiate in a Big Ten stadium. Sarah Thomas became the NFL's first full-time female official in 2015. Thomas has a history of firsts. Sarah Thomas has been an NFL official for almost two full seasons now, and we rarely mention her name here, which is a good thing in the world … On April 8, 2015, Thomas was hired as the first full-time female official in NFL history, and for the 2020 NFL season, she is on the officiating crew headed by referee Shawn Hochuli. TAMPA, FL -- Sarah Thomas will cap her sixth NFL season by becoming the first female to officiate the Super Bowl in NFL history. A Pascagoula, Miss., native, she began officiating youth and high school football games in Mississippi after graduating from the University of Mobile. Elena Tambini. Football is an essential piece of America’s fabric, uniting fans, players and communities with a simple yet powerful bond. She is the first woman to be on the officiating crew headed by referee Ronald Torbert during the 2018 NFL season. Thomas didn’t feel like she had room for advancement in the role. NFL Media's Judy Battista sits down with Sarah Thomas to talk about her inspiring journey that led her to become the first full-time female NFL official. In 2007, she was the first woman to work a major college football game. Sarah Thomas is an American football official referee, who is currently the official for the National Football League (NFL). ", We’re more than proud of @JenniferKing5 and all the women who are breaking barriers in our league‼️ https://t.co/oW30Z1m05d. You can also study the official NFL rulebook, which is available online. According to NFL.com and CNN, the regular-season game was the first time in NFL history that female coaches were on both sidelines, with a female referee officiating. "It's just so meaningful. Officials are listed with their uniform number, years of NFL experience (including this season), the crew each official worked with in the regular season (by the referee’s name), college, and outside occupation. She was also a quarterback and receiver for the Carolina Phoenix of the Women's Football Alliance from 2006-2017. To get some first-hand experience, try refereeing local football games or in a college or semi-pro league. While she wasn’t the first woman to officiate an NFL game – Shannon Eastin stepped in as a replacement during the 2012 referee lockout – … She will be a down judge Sunday in Super Bowl LV between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. … She was a quality control coach at Dartmouth and also served as an assistant receivers coach and special teams assistant for the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football, which was canceled earlier this year. She was hired by Conference USA in 2007 and officiated college football games until she reached the pros in 2015. Sarah Thomas is the highest paid female referee bringing in close to $250,000 per year as an NFL official. Thomas began her NFL officiating career as a line judge. No woman had ever officiated at the professional level before. According to TSM Sportz report, a women referee earn maximum $1.5k for NFL match and $5k maximum if got selected for Super Bowl. NFL official Sarah Thomas discusses making history as the first female to be an official in a Super Bowl. 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"Today's game marks the first regular-season game in @NFL history to have a female coach on both sidelines + a female official," the Browns tweeted. In 2015, she became the first full-time female referee in the NFL. Christopher Brito is a social media producer and trending writer for CBS News, focusing on sports and stories that involve issues of race and culture. In 2019, Thomas was the first female official to work in NFL postseason history. Aurélie Sarà Bollier is a 27-year-old professional referee in Switzerland, she is a full-time referee in (Swiss amateur… Team tweeted about their historic encounter feel like she had room for advancement in role! Official who made history in 2015, she became the first full-time female referee in the.. Ever officiated at the professional level before rights reserved 55th edition on 7 February on trick plays coach. After rising through the college ranks 's Football Alliance from 2006-2017 be the first in any of this, said. 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