The NFL made waves earlier this week when it announced that it would feature a full-time female official for the first time in league history during the 2015 season. They had used female officials during the preseason previously, and there are many in college football, but it will be a first on the biggest stage.
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The woman doing the job will be Sarah Thomas. She worked her way up through the ranks, starting in high school before eventually moving on to officiate collegiate games. She says she did not set out to be a trail blazer, according to NFL.com, but it looks like she will be anyway. Much of the reaction to the announcement has been positive.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh had good things to say about Thomas, referencing her performance during the preseason in the past. "Oh, no," Harbaugh said during a press conference Wednesday. "We had her in the preseason last year and she did a good job. She's got to be one of the better ones we have. So, it's about time. Get these guys straightened out a little bit, get these gals in there. She's a good ref, so it was a good choice."
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Some, such as former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver, are more curious about how she will fare.
How will she do? Thoughts? Sarah Thomas, the @NFL's first female ref https://t.co/bdT3FcEhCH pic.twitter.com/TuOPLeVmg1"
— Donald Driver (@Donald_Driver80) April 9, 2015
And as with any groundbreaking announcement, there are always some that dislike the idea. Count Jacksonville's Sen'Derrick Marks in that camp, as he thinks the move was made for publicity.
"It's just like the Michael Same situation - if he wasn't gay, he would have gone undrafted,'' Marks said. "Instead, the league drafts him because I think they are trying to monopolize every aspect of the world. The same thing with a female ref. For the league, it's great publicity. The NFL is all about monopolizing every opportunity.''
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