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.
The #SBLV crew:
— NFL Officiating (@NFLOfficiating) January 19, 2021
• Carl Cheffers (R)
• Fred Bryan (U)
• Sarah Thomas (DJ)
• Rusty Baynes (LJ)
• James Coleman (FJ)
• Eugene Hall (SJ)
• Dino Paganelli (BJ)
• Mike Wimmer (RO)
Sarah makes history as the first woman to officiate in a Super Bowl. https://t.co/EVvz45QgFx pic.twitter.com/tDvWZPx9JG
Read more at usatoday.com
