How many female NFL refs are there? [2024 NFL Season]

The coaching surroundings of the National Football League (NFL) have undergone a major shift in recent years, which is defined by an intention to promote diversity and equality. Have you ever wondered how many female NFL refs are there? The NFL has been making efforts to increase the number of female staff. 

Let’s find how many female referees along with the efforts made by the NFL to include a more diverse group of players on the field.

How many female NFL refs are there?

By 2024, there will be 3 female NFL refs in the NFL. Included after those are,

1. Maia Chaka

Chaka became the first female NFL referee to ever perform a playoff game when she joined the league in 2021 as a back judge.

2. Sarah Thomas

When Thomas started working for the NFL in 2015, she became the officially first female NFL refs to do so full-time. By being the first female Super Bowl officiator in 2021, she created even more history.

3. Robin DeLorenzo

By 2022, DeLorenzo was the third female official in the NFL, having entered as a down judge. 

Compared to the mere two female referees in the 2021–2022 seasons, this is a little but notable increase. 

More women should be entering the ranks in the upcoming years as the NFL is actively seeking to increase the number of female staff members at all levels.

Who was the first female NFL ref?

The leading as we know, Sarah Thomas is the first female full-time NFL staff. She has had an incredible journey of history-making and barrier-breaking. 

Here are a few highlights from her career as an officiant,

• Early years

She attended a Gulf Coast Football Officials Association meeting in 1996, which identified the start of her officiating career. In 1999, she worked her first high school college game.

• Conference USA

Her commitment and abilities were acknowledged in 2006 by Conference USA’s coordinator of officials, Gerry Austin, who also performs Super Bowls. He hired her for the Conference USA staff after inviting her to an officials’ camp. 

She conducted the first major college football game ever played by a woman in 2007 when Memphis and Jacksonville State played.

• Bowl-Game breakthrough

Sarah Thomas was paired with a crew and handed an 11-game schedule for the 2009 campaign. She created history at the end of that season when she played the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl between Marshall and Ohio, becoming the first female bowl recognized ever.

Female NFL Referee Sarah Thomas NFL milestones

Sarah Thomas Instagram: CLICK HERE

• She realized her dream on April 8, 2015, when she was hired to become the first-ever full-time female official in NFL history. 
• She was a member of the conducting team under referee Shawn Hochuli for the 2020 NFL season.
• She became the first female player assigned to an NFL playoff game in January of 2021. 
• She created history once more in February 2021 when she was the first female referee in Super Bowl history. 
• Her journey is a living example of courage, determination, and dedication to excellence. She has made it possible for more women to play in the NFL than ever before.

Female NFL referee salary

Since the NFL has made progress in recent years toward gender equality, there are still fewer female officials than male counterparts. 

• For female NFL refs, the typical per-year salary is roughly $75,000.
• Female referees receive about $1,500 per game. Expenses are not included in this amount. 
• For big games like the Super Bowl, they get paid $5,000 every time. 
• Sarah Thomas, the highest-paid female referee, is said to make close to $250,000 annually. 

Experience is a major factor in pay, as it is in most professions. Regardless of gender, more seasoned referees will usually make more money than less seasoned ones.

First black female NFL referee

Maia Chaka, who began working for the NFL in 2021, is the first Black woman referee. Since Sarah Thomas became the first female referee on a full-time basis, Maia Chaka is the first Black woman to work as an official in the National Football League.

What challenges did Sarah Thomas face as the first female NFL refs?

The first female NFL refs, Sarah Thomas, had plenty of challenges to overcome. 

• Being the sole female in settings where men predominate, which may cause feelings of discomfort and loneliness, was one of these.
• Having to deal with questions and reservations about her skills from both inside and outside the league.
• Going around gender norms and expectations, especially those related to the role’s requirement for independence and physical strength. 
• Handling the media’s attention and increased monitoring of those results from her presence. 
• Coming to a balance between a demanding career and parental duties. 
• Addressing statements and actions that are gender biased, as may cause more anxiety and division.

What advice has Sarah Thomas given to aspiring female referees?

• Thomas highlighted that being true to oneself and concentrating on performing well in the role is more important than being distracted by gender issues. 
• Instead of targeting for recognition or to live up to others’ expectations, she warned female officials to go after their careers out of a love for the game as well as their craft.
• Regardless of cultural expectations or a lack of diversity in their field, she encouraged women to work toward their goals with confidence along with ignoring artificial barriers. 
• Rather than being satisfied with temporary successes, she highlighted the value of lifelong learning and career longevity.

Frequently Asked Questions

The 3 female NFL refs are currently making history on the field, which is changing the officiating landscape in the NFL. Their journey includes from Sarah Thomas’s to Maia Chaka’s first opens doors for more women to break down barriers. 

Yet the percentage is still small, it is visible that gender equality in NFL performance is growing, and female referees have more hope than ever for the future.