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Wednesday, April 24, 2024
NFL Sports

NFL referee Sarah Thomas will be first woman on a Super Bowl officiating crew

Thomas will work as down judge, a position she’s held for the past four seasons.

By  USA TODAY
   
SHARE NFL referee Sarah Thomas will be first woman on a Super Bowl officiating crew
Sarah Thomas will be the first woman to officiate the Super Bowl.

Sarah Thomas will be the first woman to officiate the Super Bowl.

David Richard/AP

The National Football League has announced its officiating crew for the upcoming Super Bowl — with Sarah Thomas set to become the first female official in the game’s 55-year history.

Referee Carl Cheffers’ crew at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on Feb. 7 will include Thomas as down judge, a position she’s held for the past four seasons.

“Sarah Thomas has made history again as the first female Super Bowl official,” said NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations, Troy Vincent Sr. “Her elite performance and commitment to excellence has earned her the right to officiate the Super Bowl. Congratulations to Sarah on this well-deserved honor.”

The NFL’s first female full-time official, Thomas does have previous postseason experience, working on the crew for the New England Patriots-Los Angeles Chargers divisional playoff game on Jan. 13, 2019.

Cheffers is in his 21st season as an NFL official. He was also the referee for Super Bowl LI in Houston between the Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons.

Read more at usatoday.com

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