Who is Sarah Thomas? NFL referee named as first-ever woman Down Judge at Super Bowl LIV

NFL referee Sarah Thomas is all set to make history next month after she was anunced as one of members of officiating team for Super Bowl. 47-year-old thus becomes first female to officiate in a Super Bowl game and will serve as a down judge on referee Carl Cheffers' crew. Thomas was first female referee in NFL, starting her officiating career in 2015. Here's a look at 'Who is Sarah Thomas?' and her officiating career. 

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Sarah Thomas football referee: NFL to have first female official at Super Bowl 

NFL on Wednesday anunced that Sarah Thomas will become first female to officiate in Super Bowl and will do so next month. 47-year-old will cap her sixth NFL season and has worked on a total of four postseason games in six seasons with league. Sarah Thomas Super Bowl debut will come under referee Carl Cheffers will lead seven-person crew of on-field game officials for Super Bowl in February at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

Cheffers has been a game official for 21 seasons in NFL and was promoted to referee in 2008. He has worked 17 playoffs games, including Super Bowl in 2017.

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Speaking of decision, Troy Vincent Sr, NFL’s executive vice resident of football operations said that Sarah Thomas has made history again and her elite performance and commitment to excellence has earned her right to officiate Super Bowl. He added that it was a well-deserved hour for 47-year-old, who is stranger to breaking barriers. Thomas was first woman to officiate a game in Mississippi’s top high school division, first to referee a major college football game after joining Conference USA’s full-time staff in 2007 and also  first to officiate a bowl game when she worked Marshall’s win over Ohio in Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in 2009. 

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She was hired NFL’s first permanent female official in 2015, after having spent time in New Orleans Saints’ and Indianapolis Colts’ training camps and officiated a 2013 pre-season game between Saints and Oakland Raiders. NFL gars its Super Bowl officiating crew based on eligibility -- a minimum of five years of experience is required -- as well as in-season performance. Along with Thomas, umpire Fred Bryan, line judge Rusty Baynes, side judge Eugene Hall and back judge Di Paganelli are all part of crew and have worked at least one Super Bowl. Field judge James Coleman will round out crew.

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(Im Courtesy: NFL Twitter)