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Sarah Thomas will be first female to officiate in a Super Bowl

Steelers Cardinals Football
Posted at 3:06 PM, Jan 19, 2021
and last updated 2021-01-24 08:46:21-05

NEW YORK (NFL Communications) - Referee Carl Cheffers will lead the seven-person crew of on-field game officials selected to work Super Bowl LV on Sunday, February 7 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

The Super Bowl LV officiating crew is:

  • Carl Cheffers - Referee
  • Fred Bryan - Umpire
  • Sarah Thomas - Down Judge
  • Rusty Baynes - Line Judge
  • James Coleman - Field Judge
  • Eugene Hall - Side Judge
  • Dino Paganelli - Back Judge
  • Mike Wimmer - Replay Official

“Their body of work over the course of a 17-game season has earned them the honor of officiating the biggest game on the world’s biggest stage,” said NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations, Troy Vincent, Sr. “They are the best of the best.”

Carl Cheffers is in his 21st season as an NFL game official. He was promoted to referee in 2008 and has officiated 17 playoff games, including Super Bowl LI.

Down judge Sarah Thomas will become the first woman ever to officiate in a Super Bowl.

“Sarah Thomas has made history again as the first female Super Bowl official,” Vincent said. “Her elite performance and commitment to excellence has earned her the right to officiate the Super Bowl. Congratulations to Sarah on this well-deserved honor.”

James Coleman is officiating in his first Super Bowl as well, while Carl Cheffers (LI), Fred Bryan (LIII), Rusty Baynes (50), Eugene Hall (LIII), and Dino Paganelli (XLVII) will be working in their second.

Collectively, the Super Bowl LV on-field officiating crew has 88 years of NFL officiating experience and 77 combined playoff game assignments (including past Super Bowls)