On Tuesday, the NFL announced its officiating assignments for Super Bowl LV, naming Mississippi native Sarah Thomas as the game’s down judge.
Thomas will be making history as the first woman ever to officiate a Super Bowl.
“Sarah Thomas has made history again as the first female Super Bowl official,” NFL executive vice president Troy Vincent said in a statement. “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.”
Thomas, who was born in Pascagoula, became the first woman to ever officiate a playoff game in January of 2019 when the New England Patriots faced off against the San Diego Chargers.
This year’s Super Bowl on-field officiating crew consists of eight individuals with a combined total of 88 years of experience and 77 playoff game assignments.
The game is set to kick off in Tampa Bay on February 7 at 5:30 p.m. CST.
