The NFL is hiring Sarah Thomas as its first female official, along with seven other male officials for the 2015 season.
Ms. Thomas’ hiring was first reported by The Baltimore Sun. The league hired the eight new officials after four officials from the 2014 season retired. All of the new officials will have to pass physical exams before beginning the season and four of the new hires will be considered “floaters” and not assigned to a specific crew, Foxsports.com reported Friday.
It is unclear whether Ms. Thomas will be assigned to a permanent crew or not as the NFL has not officially announced the new hires.
Ms. Thomas was the first woman to officiate a major college football game, the first first to officiate a bowl game and the first to officiate in a Big Ten stadium.
“I set out to do this and get involved in officiating not having any idea that there were not any females officiating football,” Ms. Thomas told NFL Network in 2014. “Being a former basketball player, you saw females officiating all the time. So, no, I don’t feel like a pioneer.”
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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