Sarah Thomas Makes History As First Women To Officiate A Super Bowl Game

History was made Sunday night in Tampa, Florida when Sarah Thomas became the first women to referee the Super Bowl. She was a part of a seven person crew officiating the annual football game.

NFL executive Vice President of football operations, Troy Vincent Jr., called this group of referees “the best of the best” in a statement.

“Sarah Thomas has made history again as the first female Super Bowl official. 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,” said Vincent.

Thomas was joined on the field with veteran referees Fred Bryan, Rusty Baynes, James Coleman, Dino Paganelli, Carl Cheffers and Mike Wimmer. The group had 88 years of NFL officiating experience in crowning the Tampa Bay Buccaneers victorious over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Thomas has made history in the world of football before. In 2007, she became the first women to officiate a major college football game. She went on to become the first full-time NFL women referee and was the first women to officiate an on-field game at an NFL playoff.

“I’ve always said that if you do something because you love it and not try to prove somebody wrong or get recognition for it, the recognition probably just is going to happen,” Thomas told CBS News in 2019.