The National Football League has announced that down judge Sarah Thomas will be part of the officiating crew for this year’s Super Bowl, making her the first woman to ever officiate the Big Game.
In a statement announcing the officiating crew for this year’s Super Bowl, NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent Sr. said that Thomas’ “elite performance and commitment to excellence has earned her the right to officiate the Super Bowl.”
Thomas (47) was the first woman to ever officiate in the NFL and has been a permanent fixture in the league since getting her start in 2015. She also became the first woman to officiate a playoff game during the 2018 season, calling the game between the New England Patriots and Tennesee Titans, and has since officiated three other playoff matches.
Thomas also spent time as an official in college football and in the United Football League.
Super Bowl LV is scheduled to take place on February 7th in Tampa Bay, Florida, and will feature the winner of the NFC Champion Game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers facing off against the winner of the AFC Championship Game between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs.
