Sarah Thomas will cap her sixth NFL season by becoming the first female to officiate the Super Bowl in NFL history. Thomas, a down judge, is part of the officiating crew announced Tuesday by the NFL.
“Sarah Thomas has made history again as the first female Super Bowl official,” said Troy Vincent, Sr., the NFL’s executive vice resident of football operations.
Thomas has been a full-time NFL referee since 2015, having officiated 92 regular season games. She drew her first playoff assignment during the 2018 season, officiating the Patriots/Chargers matchup. She then was assigned a playoff game last year between the 49ers and Vikings.
She just officiated Sunday's contest between the Saints and Buccaneers.
Referee Carl Cheffers will lead the seven-person crew of on-field game officials for the Super Bowl on Feb. 7 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Cheffers has been a game official 21 seasons in the NFL and was promoted to referee in 2008. He has worked 17 playoff games, including the Super Bowl in 2017.
