Who is the NFL female referee?
Sarah Smith
Published Jan 22, 2026
Sarah Thomas was the first female to be hired as a full-time NFL official. She accomplished this in 2015 when the NFL announced the move to make her a regular part of the officiating cast. She wasn't the first woman to officiate an NFL game.
How many NFL refs are female?
It's a proud moment for my community and my students and coworkers." She is just the third on-field female NFL official, joining Sarah Thomas and Shannon Eastin. Chaka has experience working as an official on the college level for the Pac-12 Conference and Conference USA.
Who is the new NFL female referee?
Maia Chaka has made history as the first Black woman to ever officiate an NFL game. Chaka, who was hired by the league on March 5, worked as the line judge in Sunday's Week 1 matchup between the Panthers and the Jets. She became the league's third female on-field official following Shannon Eastin and Sarah Thomas.
How much are NFL referees paid?
Although the official figures are not usually revealed publicly, after the last agreement between the league and the NFL Referees Association it was known that in the 2019 season, referees received earnings of $205,000 on average. This equates to around $12,000 per game, a pretty significant figure.
Who is the female ref in the Big 10?
First Black woman to referee Big Ten football also has full-time job in financial services. The first time someone suggested LaShell Nelson consider being a football referee, she was a 20-something playing in a flag football league in Texas. “I said, 'Hell no. I don't want to be yelled at,'” she said.
16 related questions foundDo NFL refs pay their own travel expenses?
Do NFL refs Pay Their Own Travel Expenses? Since referees have to spend a lot of time traveling to games throughout the NFL season, they do receive a stipend to cover their travel expenses, but the amount of the stipend is not publicly available.
Who is the black female referee in the NFL?
Rochester native Maia Chaka is the first Black woman to officiate an NFL game. In September 2021, Rochester native Maia Chaka made history when she became the first Black woman to be a National Football League referee.
Is there a black female referee in the NFL?
Upstate New York native Maia Chaka has made history as the NFL's first Black female referee. Chaka, born and raised in Rochester, N.Y., made her National Football League officiating debut as a line judge during Sunday's game between the New York Jets and the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Who is the black NFL ref?
Grier joined the league as a field judge in 1981 and was elevated to referee, or crew chief, seven years later, becoming a mentor to other Black officials. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Anyone can read what you share.
Are there any woman in the NFL?
To date, only one woman has ever attempted to join the NFL: Lauren Silberman, who received a tryout to a scouting combine in 2013. Silberman had never played the game before and botched her tryout, leading observers to assume the tryout was a publicity stunt.
Can a woman be a football referee?
Although there have only been ten female referees in the top leagues of men's football in Europe over the last 30 years, seven of them are currently active.
Are there any female college football referees?
Amanda Sauer is the only female referee in the Big 10 Conference. Made up of college teams from multiple sports from states including Iowa, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania, it features some of the brighest young sport stars in the college system.
What do refs do during halftime?
At halftime, officials are given the opportunity to communicate in the privacy of the locker room and take time to discuss the events of the first half. The officials can also use that time to refocus and concentrate on making the second half of the game even better.
Do NFL referees fly first class?
Refs are required to arrive at least 24 hours before a game. They fly first-class and the league covers all their travel expenses.
How much do NFL Waterboys make?
On average, NFL waterboys make $53,000 per year (according to Stack.com). However, that's just the salary for beginners. For professionals, their salary can be higher as any other highest paid NFL waterboy.
What do SEC referees get paid?
They do not earn salaries; instead, they are paid per game. The top football conferences, including the Southeastern Conference, pay their officials the highest compensation in the FBS. In the SEC, football officials are typically paid between $800 and $3,000 per game.
What is the highest paid referee?
Brad Allen and Walter Anderson are the highest-paid NFL referees for the 2020-21 season.
How much does a NFL cheerleader make?
According to information from various data sources, the average NFL cheerleader salary is $150 per game day. They also receive about $50 – $75 for one public appearance. The cheerleaders' job is more like performing. To get those sexy and hot performances, they had to go through a lot of things.
What is Sarah Thomas salary?
Sarah Thomas is the highest paid female referee bringing in close to $250,000 per year as an NFL official.
Can a woman referee mens football?
Welch is no stranger to making history as last year she became the first female referee to be appointed to an English Football League match earlier this year. The 38-year-old has refereed men's matches in the National League plus elite women's games including the 2017 FA Cup final.
Can there be female referees?
Since these small initial breakthroughs, there has been quite an increase in the number of female referees in the sporting world, with an increase of 26 female referees in 1995 to a total of approximately 350 today (Denoncourt, 2017).
What age group can a 14 year old referee?
14 years old is the minimum age you must be to qualify as a referee. How much does the referee course cost? How long is the course? The course is over two days and is a mix of theory and practical.
Why are there no female NFL players?
No American Football rule states that women can't play in the NFL. The only requirements are that they are out of high school for three years and use their college edibility requirements before the next college football season.