Chaka has several years of . Officiating in Sunday's New York Jets at Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, North Carolina, Chaka is the third on-field female official in the NFL, joining Sarah Thomas, the first permanent female . originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia. In 2006, she was invited to an officials camp hosted by then-Conference USAs coordinator of officials, Gerry Austin. ", MORE: The referee and officials assigned to Super Bowl 55. Developing skilled football officials at the grass-roots level. That would be Sarah Thomas. Se non vuoi che noi e i nostri partner utilizziamo i cookie e i dati personali per questi scopi aggiuntivi, clicca su "Rifiuta tutto". Some attendees come with officiating experience; others are new to the discipline. She did serve as head linesman in the second half of the 2018 season. Meet the first Black female to officiate an NFL game, Meet Sarah Thomas, the NFL's first female referee. 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. Chaka is the second woman hired as a full-time NFL official. Here are just a few of the women moving through the officiating ranks: Meet Sarah Thomas, the first woman to be assigned full time to an NFL officiating crew. Shes ready, he told ESPN in 2015. Austin was impressed with her skills and hired her for the Conference USA staff. Thomas started as a line judge in 2015 and made her way up to being a down judge in 2017, which now reflects a gender-neutral position thanks to her. The league currently has several women in coaching positions, including assistant defensive line coach Lori Locust and director of rehabilitation/performance coach Maral Javadifar (Tampa Bay), assistant wide receivers coach Callie Brownson (Cleveland), assistant running backs coach Jennifer King (Washington), offensive quality control coach Angela Baker (New York Giants), and sports performance coach Autumn Lockwood (Philadelphia). Thomas, aPascagoula, Miss. 7', Eagles star OT reveals hardest pass rushers to block, Leonard Fournette escapes burning SUV on the road, Belichick on NFL coach he would have liked to work with, Report: Cowboys not discussing Zeke return for 2023, NFL official set to make history in Week 1 debut, Top 25 NFL players 25 and under: Young stars ranked, Ranking top 10 LBs: Warner has it covered, Carr: Once Raiders 'made my wife cry, it was over', Ex-NFL GM says these five players have most to prove, Belichick reveals 1 coach he would've liked to work with, Eagles' Lane Johnson ranks hardest pass rushers to block. "I've always (stressed)understanding the spirit of rules and don't be technical. "I just want them to know if you have a passion for something and if have a drive for something, don't let it hold you back just because you think that something may give you some type of limitation," Chaka said. A female coach was on each sideline and a female . Taking advantage of her opportunities proved worthwhile for now full-time NFL referee Sarah Thomas. Information Who Is Sarah Thomas? To date, 16 intermediate-level WON officials have worked college all-star games, PREP 100 events, 7-on-7 tournaments and. After joining the NFL's Officiating Program in 2014, Chaka made her way through the system. ', "That's a good skill, and Sarah has that skill. Chaka was added Friday to the NFL roster of game officials for the 2021 season, becoming the first Black woman in league history to be named to the NFL's officiating staff. Yet that's exactly what the 47-year-old is as the league's first full-time female official. The 49ers aren't yet certain they'll have Brock Purdy in time for the start of the 2023 season. [5] She attended the University of Mobile on a basketball scholarship and was an academic all-American. Lions CB Jerry Jacobs joined Good Morning Football on Tuesday to discuss the new additions to Detroit's defense and the opportunity ahead in Week 1 vs. the Kansas City Chiefs. I feel like she has the ability and courage to make a call, and the guts to not make one, too. Sarah Thomas became the first woman to be assigned full-time to an NFL officiating crew before the 2015 season. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Thomas, 47, became the first woman to . Lets see how Thomas pursuit influenced the female ref roster for this years NFL season. MORE:Buccaneers' devotion to coaching staff diversity an essential element in Super Bowl 55 run, I feel extremely blessed to have this opportunity, and I know that Coach Loand, I'm sure, Sarah, feel the same way, Javadifar told reportersthis week. Niners QB Brock Purdy is headed to Jacksonville to throw the next couple of weeks with QB coach Will Hewlett and orthopedic specialist Tom Gormely as he continues his rehab. She worked her first varsity high school game in 1999. NFL programs develop officials at every level. "I am honored to be selected as an NFL official," Chaka said in a statement. Maia Chaka has been added to the NFL's roster of officials for the 2021 season, making her the second woman and first Black woman among the NFL's on-field officials. That means she lines up along the line of scrimmage and watches for, among other things, offside and illegal contact by defensive backs on receivers near the line. [18], On December 24, 2016, Thomas broke her wrist in a mid-game collision on the sideline of a Vikings-Packers game. Dates, News, and Locations for All 32 Teams, DeAndre Hopkins Signing: 2 Teams Still Lurking on Veteran WR, History of New York Jets First-Round NFL Draft Picks All Time. "I am honored to be selected as an NFL official," Chaka said in anofficial statementearlier this offseason. 2023 National Football League. [citation needed] At the school, Chaka has reportedly sponsored a mentorship club for girls and won a Teacher of the Year award multiple years ago. She was named to the crew for the game between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Chargers on January 13, 2019. Be sure to check out the live blog for highlights, analysis and Chaka's history-making NFL debut! The down judge lines up on the sideline and looks directly down the line of scrimmage. The National Football League (NFL) is the highest level of American football worldwide. Hopefully the presence of Thomas, Locust and Javadifar on the Super Bowl sidelines is just the beginning. This occurred in September 2021. More times than not, a coach just wants to vent. She had previously worked offseason practices and scrimmages for the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts in 2013. 3 months ago on April 12, 2023 By Ben Austro The USFL is the first major spring league in four decades to complete a season and return for a second. According to a TSM Sportz report, a female referee makes a maximum pay of $1,500 for each NFL game they officiate. Commitment to diversity Embed from Getty Images The NFL continues to hire minority and female officials. Quando utilizzi i nostri siti e le nostre app, noi utilizziamo i. autenticare gli utenti, applicare misure di sicurezza e prevenire spam e abusi; misurare l'utilizzo dei nostri siti e delle nostre app. She appeared in a Super Bowl LIII commercial in 2019 with referee Ron Torbert (Thomas was the down judge on Torbert's crew during the 2018 season) for the NFL. It will always be there." I do look forward to the day when its no longer newsworthy to be a woman working in the pros, or making the Super Bowlfor that matter.". On April 8, 2015, the NFL announced that Thomas would become the first permanent female official in NFL history. All Rights Reserved. In a statement provided by the NFL, Chaka said, "I am . Selected in 2014 as a part of the league's officiating development program, Chaka has earned the right to be exactly where she is today. She will be the first black woman to officiate an NFL game. Who are the female NFL football officials for 2022? She won't be the only young girl noticing Thomas and dreaming big. Football is an essential piece of Americas fabric, uniting fans, players and communities with a simple yet powerful bond. In February 2021, she became the first woman to officiate in a Super Bowl. College Sports Watch. She ignited change and paved the way for female referees everywhere, especially in the NFL. In January 2021, she became the first woman to earn an on-field assignment for an NFL playoff game. Free-agent RB Leonard Fournette posted an Instagram video of his charred SUV on the side of the road, informing his followers he was OK after the incident. With NFL+, stay connected throughout the rest of the NFL offseason with special content from Training Camp, Hall of Fame, and more! 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, at NFL. This historic moment to me is an honor, and its a privilege that Ive been chosen to represent women and women of color in the most popular sport in America, proving that I can defy the odds and overcome and pretty much master a craft of a sport that I didnt really play but I have a love and a passion for, Chaka said in a social media statement. 2023 Rules Changes and Points of Clarification, Summits showcase pipeline for minority coaches, GMs, Their Causes, Their Impact: Player-Led Initiatives a Multiplying Force for Good. Every week, officials take the field ready to put months of preparation, training and hard work on display, knowing that the whole world and the Officiating Department is watching. Aspiring to reach even greater heights, Thomas hit a new milestone in her already-successful officiating career when she was selected to officiate as part of Super Bowl 55s crew in 2021. When Does NFL Training Camp Start? In February of 2021, she became the first female to work a Super Bowl. Who is Maia Chaka? Sarah Thomas ( ne Bailey; born September 21, 1973) [2] [3] is an American football official, currently for the National Football League (NFL). All Rights Reserved. Another five WON officials Sharlanda Demingo, Tangela Mitchell, Yvonda Lewis, Krystal Appeleniz and Artenzia Young are officiating in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and Southwestern Athletic Conference. [5] In her three seasons on the basketball team, Thomas amassed 779 points, 441 rebounds, 108 assists, and 192 steals. The change in the position name from head linesman coincided with the move in order to use a gender-neutral term. In 2015, Thomas became the first female to be a full-time NFL official, according to The Focus. Per maggiori informazioni sulle modalit di utilizzo dei dati sensibili, consulta la nostra Informativa sulla privacy e la nostra Informativa sui cookie. She eventually reached the pinnacle, becoming one of the first female NFL referees and the first Black woman to serve as an NFL official. Female referees make a maximum single-game pay of $5,000 if they work the Super Bowl. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. She worked as a line judge for the Jets-Panthers game. Maia Chakra, a 41-year-old Rochester, N.Y. native, became the first Black woman to be hired as a full-time official by the NFL. It was a moment she called nuts., "I asked him, 'Hey are you punking me? Chaka said. On April 8, 2015, Thomas was hired as the first full-time female official in NFL history,[note 1] and for the 2020 NFL season, she was on the officiating crew headed by referee Shawn Hochuli. Shes listed as a down judge, wearing jersey No. If there's a call to be made, have the courage to make the call, and she fit within that framework. For the first time in the NFL's history, three women were on the gridiron Sunday in an official capacity during a regular-season game. Lets see how Thomas pursuit influenced the female ref roster for this years NFL season. [4] She wears uniform number 53. The NFL hired its first Black official, Burl Toler, in 1965 and its first full-time female official, Sarah Thomas, in 2015.The NFL has not announced what officiating position Chaka has been hired for. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. [21] She was an alternate for the 2018 Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Rams Wild Card game. ", According to Today, Chaka received news she would become an official on March 1 from NFL vice president of officiating evaluation and development Wayne Mackie, one of her mentors and a former 10-year NFL official. When Thomas began her NFL career, she served as a line judge. We're just so very proud of her. The NFL naturally prefers to focus on the good that comes from its officiating department. Women Officiating Now (WON) aims to do just that. As fuel taxes plummet, states weigh charging by the mile instead of the tank, 'A vital role:' Donald Trump endorses the idea of national abortion restrictions, Kids scream for help on call with 911. When Javadifar and Locust go to shake the referees hands, they'll shake the hand of down judge Sarah Thomas, the first woman to officiate a Super Bowl. Without the benefit of multiple camera angles on high-definition TV, the crew rules on about 153 plays each and every game. Shes got the right demeanor; shes sharp.. Who is the female referee in Super Bowl 2021? Thomas worked the game as a line judge. Yahoo fa parte della famiglia di brand di Yahoo. At the 2021 Super Bowl, three women will be making history: referee Sarah Thomas and Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant coaches Maral Javadifar and Lori Locust. MASON "RED" CASHION, NFL OFFICIAL, 19721996. Derek Carr got the full Raiders experience before his time in the Silver and Black was finished. After being looked at for a brief concussion protocol, Thomas returned and finished the game with the broken wrist. WON clinics are open to all women, no matter their background or skill level. [7], Before becoming a referee, she worked as a pharmaceutical representative. During the 2021-22 season, there were only two female referees Maia Chaka and Sarah Thomas. How many NFL referees are female? If you already have the CBS Sports app, make sure to favorite the your favorite team so you don't miss a thing! In 2017, she switched to down judge, which is the position she continues to hold in 2020. Lori Locust is a defensive line assistant coach for Tampa Bay, while Maral Javadifar is an assistant strength and conditioning coach. According to a TSM Sportz report, a female referee makes a maximum pay of $1,500 for each NFL game they officiate. These teams were divided equally between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American . Pro Football Network passionately delivers purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. Last season, all regular season games were played in the city of Birmingham, Ala., but this season games will also be played in Canton, Detroit, and Memphis. 2023 Primera Divisin C de Argentina, Clausura . Six years later in 2021, Thomas became the first female official to work a Super Bowl, when the Kansas City Chiefs battled the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 2020, the spotlight was on a Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff when Lori Locust and Maral Javadifar carved a path for women looking to make a name for themselves on NFL coaching staffs, and also Sarah Thomas, who became the first woman to ever officiate a Super Bowl. Maia Chaka made history on Sunday, becoming the first Black woman to officiate an NFL game. [11] At the end of the season, she was selected to work the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl between Marshall and Ohio, making her the first woman to officiate a bowl game. If there's a call to be made, have the courage to make the call, and she fit within that framework. She recently made her NFL debut in the Giants-Patriots pre-season game. Thomas became the first full-time female NFL official in 2015. Who was the highest paid female NFL referee during the 2021-22 season? native, began officiating youth and high school football games in her home state after graduating from the University of Mobile. Correctly officiating an NFL game takes years of experience, training and development. [5][11], In 2006, Gerry Austin, Conference USA's coordinator of officials who also refereed Super Bowls XXXI and XXXV, invited her to an officials' camp, due to Thomas proving her dedication and skills in the advancement of the industry. The female NFL officials for 2022. All rights reserved. MORE: Meet Sarah Thomas, the NFL's first female referee. Sarah Thomas will be one of nine rookie NFL officials in 2015. A health and physical education teacher in the Virginia Beach public school system, Chaka joins the NFL after working at the collegiate level, including stints in the Pac-12 Conference and Conference USA. When Sarah Thomas. section: | slug: nfl-officiating-history-maia-chaka-becomes-first-black-woman-to-officiate-league-game-in-week-1 | sport: football | route: article_single.us | Chaka previously worked with the Pac-12,Conference USA and the XFL. In 1990, Tom Stuker bought a lifetime pass from United Airlines for $290,000. They have three children together. Maia Chaka has made history as the first Black woman to ever officiate an NFL game. Thomas has officiated United Football League games, and in 2010 worked the league championship game. The NFL hired its first Black official, Burl Toler, in 1965. 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. That would be Sarah Thomas. Starting 8th Season As NFL Referee in 2022 Entering her eighth season in the NFL, Sarah Thomas has been changing the game since starting her path to becoming the first female NFL referee. 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.". Saints head coach Sean Payton, who got a firsthand look at Thomas skills in a training camp session, endorsed Thomas appointment. How did Thomas become a pioneer of progress in football, and what is her role in the NFL today? American Football Who is the NFL's female referee? "She exemplifies that and is, quite frankly, a role model for so many people. Maia Chaka is making history today. MLB. , a female referee makes a maximum pay of $1,500 for each NFL game they officiate. "I never set out to be the first in any of this, but knowing the impact that I'm having on not just my daughter but young girls everywhere, women everywhere, when I get on that field, and I take it all in, I know that I'm probably gonna get a little teary eyed. Jun 22, 2023. Se vuoi personalizzare le tue scelte, clicca su "Gestisci le impostazioni per la privacy". Twitter Email The Officials Responsibilities & Positions History of the Official Officiating Development Behind the Stripes 2022 Officials Roster The following is the 2022 NFL roster of. "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. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2023 season! AP Photo/Stephen Brashear "That call came Thursday, April 2 at 10:47 a.m.," said the 41-year-old Thomas. Special teams: Watches for offside and encroachment; rules on penalties involving blockers and defenders on trick plays. NFL.com keeps you up to date with all of the latest league news from around the NFL. 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. DeLorenzo became a down judge in 2022 following her involvement with. Since 2017, she's been a down judge. Officiate every game and every play of every game as if it is an NFL interview because you never know who may be watching. NFL Ref Has 3 Kids With Husband Brian Thomas", "Sarah Thomas Poised to Make NFL History as 1st Full-Time Referee", "Thomas shows the way for female referees", "Thomas will become first female referee in top tier of college football", "At Pizza Bowl, Thomas 1st woman to officiate bowl", "Sarah Thomas Becomes First Woman To Officiate In Big Ten Stadium", "University of Mobile alum first woman to referee I-A football", "NFL makes Sarah Thomas first full-time female official", "Sarah Thomas works Chiefs-Texans in first regular-season NFL game", "NFL line judge Sarah Thomas takes big hit on sideline, tries to shake it off", "2019 NFL playoffs: Sarah Thomas to become first female official in postseason game", "How the NFL got all those players in on that Super Bowl commercial", "NFL Names Super Bowl LV Officiating Crew; Carl Cheffers Referee", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sarah_Thomas_(American_football_official)&oldid=1137517466, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, This page was last edited on 5 February 2023, at 01:34. The down judge position was previously called a head linesman, but the title was subsequently modified to reflect a more gender-neutral position. For our young women who we hope can see what she has been able to accomplish because of her commitment to her career both as a teach and in athletics, to our African-American students she's an inspiration. Through WON, the NFL partners with organizations at all levels of football youth and high school leagues, the Independent Womens Football League, the Womens Football Foundation, the Fins Up! Once the game started, she was just doing the job that the line judge does in every game we play. [8], She is married to Brian Thomas. Nike. . It was a moment she called "nuts." . It is a professional league where American football is played by 32 teams. Below is what the down judge watches on run plays, pass plays and special teams plays. The college basketball star and former New Orleans Saints training camp official began her quest to the big leagues in 2015, when former NFL VP of Officiating Dean Blandino confirmed her spot on the NFL ref roster. "And she has great communication skills. "But this moment is bigger than a personal accomplishment. She was hired by Conference USA in 2007 and officiated college football games until she reached the pros in 2015. Soccer. 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. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Who are the female NFL football officials for 2022? News by Mark Schultz - May 3, 2022 3 Football Zebras was first to report the news on May 3 that the NFL hired 10 new officials. "As we celebrate Women's History Month, Maia is a trailblazer as the first Black female official and inspires us toward normalizing women on the football field.". Run plays: Watches for offside or encroachment; monitors sideline; determines when/if a runner is out of bounds; marks runner's forward progress. According to a TSM Sportz report, a female referee makes a maximum pay of $1,500 for each NFL game they officiate. 53. Maia . Who is the NFL's female referee? Police say she wrongly thought she was being kidnapped. Shewas selected for the NFLs Officiating Development Program which identifies talented officials working in college and helps give them exposure and experiences like league referees in 2014. Meet Sarah Thomas, the only woman official in the NFL in 2020, the league's first full-time female official, the down judge on 19-year veteran referee John Hussey's crew. She ignited change and paved the way for female referees everywhere, especially in the NFL. Thomas, the NFL's only female official, will become the first woman to officiate a Super Bowl when she works the Chiefs vs. By Olivia Kremer Last updated Mar 12, 2021 SONY DSC On Monday, March 10th, Maia Chaka made history. Nike. It didn't matter that she was a woman at all. Eagles DE Brandon Graham said the Chiefs offensive line was 'blessed' to face Philadelphia's pass rush on a slippery turf during Super Bowl LVII. We try to give him his 15-20 seconds to vent and then ask, 'What's your question? She has spent 16 combined seasons officiating for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, high school games, and for the Arizona Cardinals Red and White game.
