Sarah Thomas is on track to make history.
The married mother of three and self-described tomboy is poised to become the first full-time female referee for the NFL.
After nearly 16 years of officiating grade school, high school and college football games, Thomas, 39, was discovered by a scout for the NFL.
Gerald Austin, a retired NFL official, recalled his conversation with the scout.
“He called me one day and said, ‘I have an official that I think you need to look at,’” he said. “I said, ‘OK, Joe, what’s his name?’ And he says, ‘His name is Sarah.’ I said, ‘Sarah?’ He said, ‘Yeah, he’s a she.’”
Thomas, a Mississippi native, is now one of 21 finalists in the NFL officiating development program. She’s a top contender for the next available slot, meaning she could shatter the glass ceiling and become the league’s first permanent female game official.
Full Story: Sarah Thomas Poised to Make NFL History as 1st Full-Time Referee