Sarah Thomas | NFL Football Operations

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style="background-color: rgba(0,110,146,0.35);"></div> </div> <div class="content"> <h1><span>Sarah Thomas</span></h1> <p></p> </div> </div> <div id="trigger"> <div aria-haspopup="true" class="social-share"> <h3>Share This Page</h3> <ul> <li><a class="share" href="#">Share</a></li> <li> <a class="facebook" href="#" data-method="feed" data-link="https://operations.nfl.com/officiating/spotlights/sarah-thomas/" data-picture="https://operations.nfl.com/media/6058/ap21319700406647.jpg?rxy=0.4864864864864865,0.13963963963963963&width=627&height=410&v=1d87b4bd7c1de00&quality=85" data-name="Sarah Thomas, Advanced Development Program participant" data-caption="As a member of the NFL's Advanced Development Program, Sarah Thomas is one step away from becoming the league's first full-time female official.">Facebook</a> </li> <li><a class="twitter" target="_blank" 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title="Hugh "Shorty" Ray"><span>Hugh "Shorty" Ray</span></a></li> <li><a class="" href="/officiating/spotlights/art-mcnally/" title="Art McNally"><span>Art McNally</span></a></li> <li><a class="" href="/officiating/spotlights/burl-toler/" title="Burl Toler"><span>Burl Toler</span></a></li> <li><a class="" href="/officiating/spotlights/jerry-seeman/" title="Jerry Seeman"><span>Jerry Seeman</span></a></li> <li><a class="active" href="/officiating/spotlights/sarah-thomas/" title="Sarah Thomas"><span>Sarah Thomas</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-block article-half "> <div class="content"> <div class="full-width"> <h3><strong><span>Sarah Thomas</span></strong></h3> <h4><strong>NFL Official <em>2015 – Present </em></strong></h4> </div> <p>On April 8, 2015, Sarah Thomas achieved her football dream by becoming the first woman to officiate full time in the NFL.</p> <p>Thomas, who played basketball in college, is no stranger to breaking down barriers; she has been a pioneer for her entire officiating career.</p> <figure class="right"> <img alt="Sarah Thomas at NFL Super Bowl 55 between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on February 7, 2021, in Tampa. (AP/Mark Humphrey)" src="/media/6057/ap21038816242341.jpg?mode=max&width=995"> <figcaption><p>Sarah Thomas at NFL Super Bowl 55 between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on February 7, 2021, in Tampa. (AP/Mark Humphrey)</p></figcaption> </figure> <p>Prior to reaching full time status in the NFL, Thomas officiated NFL preseason games, worked in professional training camps and attended several officiating clinics. Working alongside veteran NFL officials and elite football talent prepared her for the next level. She was also the first woman to officiate a college bowl game — the 2009 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl between Ohio University and Marshall University.</p> <p>Since being assigned to an NFL officiating crew in 2015, Thomas rapidly began her ascent in the officiating realm. Thomas started as a line judge, then became a down judge in 2017.</p> <p>In January 2019, Thomas became the first female on-field official in playoff history. She was part of the NFL officiating crew for the Divisional Round game between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Chargers.</p> <p>In 2021, Thomas reached a new milestone in her already successful officiating career when she was named down judge in Super Bowl 55. Thomas is the first woman to ever officiate in a Super Bowl, paving the way for many more women.</p> </div> </div> <div class="content-block related-content"><div class="content"> <div class="related-content-container clear"> <h2 class="header">Related Content</h2> <a class="related-content" href="/officiating/spotlights/art-mcnally/"> <div class="image-container kenburns"> <img class="related-image scale" width="352" height="235" src="https://operations.nfl.com/media/6056/ap8001070807.jpg?width=352&height=235&v=1d87b47320c7000&quality=85" alt="Art McNally"> </div> <div class="title-container officials"> <h3 class="title">Art McNally</h3> <p></p> </div> </a>  <a class="related-content" href="/officiating/spotlights/jerry-seeman/"> <div class="image-container kenburns"> <img class="related-image scale" width="352" height="235" src="https://operations.nfl.com/media/1527/jerry-seeman-cropped.jpg?rxy=0.58333333333333337,0.3&width=352&height=235&v=1d03286b6587000&quality=85" alt="Jerry Seeman"> </div> <div class="title-container officials"> <h3 class="title">Jerry Seeman</h3> <p></p> </div> </a>  <a class="related-content" href="/officiating/spotlights/hugh-shorty-ray/"> <div class="image-container kenburns"> <img class="related-image scale" width="352" height="235" src="https://operations.nfl.com/media/1524/ray-hero.jpg?rxy=0.54933333333333334,0.31666666666666665&width=352&height=235&v=1d03285ae4c0080&quality=85" alt="Hugh "Shorty" Ray"> </div> <div class="title-container officials"> <h3 class="title">Hugh "Shorty" Ray</h3> <p></p> </div> </a>  </div>  </div></div> <div class="content-block pagetop officials"> <div class="content"> <h3><a id="pagetop">Back to Top</a></h3> </div> </div> <div class="footer"> <div class="content"> <a href="/"> <img class="logo" src="/images/logo_nflops-lightbg300@2x.png" alt="NFL Football Operations Logo" style="width: 300px;"> </a> <ul class="footer-links"> <li><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/#gameday--homepage-block">Gameday</a></li> <li><a href="/#learn-the-game-homepage-block">Learn the Game</a></li> <li><a href="/#officiating--homepage-block">Officiating</a></li> <li><a href="/#journey-to-the-nfl-homepage-block">Journey to the NFL</a></li> <li><a href="/#the-rules-homepage-block">The Rules</a></li> <li><a href="/#inside-football-ops-homepage-block">Inside Football Ops</a></li> <li><a href="/updates/">Updates</a></li> <li><a href="/search/">Search</a></li> </ul> <p class="intro-description"> NFL Football Operations’ mission is to establish a culture of clarity, consistency and credibility in all aspects of the greatest game. 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