Sarah Thomas Biography

Sarah Thomas is an American football official for NFL. She became the first full-time female official in NFL history after she was hired on April 8, 2015. She will become the first woman to officiate a Super Bowl when she works the Chiefs vs. Buccaneers game on Feb. 7, 2021.

Sarah Thomas Age

She was September 21, 1973 in Pascagoula, Mississippi, United States.

Sarah Thomas Height

She was born 5 feet 5 inches tall.

Sarah Thomas Education

Sarah joined the University of Mobile through a basketball scholarship graduating in 1985 with a degree in communications. While in college she played basketball, where in three seasons she amassed 779 points, 411 rebounds, 108 assists and 192 steals, which ranks fifth in school history.

Sarah Thomas Parents

Sarah is the daughter of Donna and Spencer Bailey. After Sarah informed her parents that she would be going to the super bowl 2021 as an official her mother said she couldn’t believe it but added that Sarah was always determined and whatever is put before her she would conquer. “We knew that she had determination and whatever was put before her, she would conquer.”

Her father said he was proud of her and her two sons as they encouraged her and supported her.

“I am so proud of my daughter but I am also so proud of my two sons. They are part of the reason she is where she is and they encouraged her and supported her in all the ways brothers can do.”

Sarah Thomas Siblings

She has two brothers Scott Bailey and Lea Bailey who are also football officials.

After she was announced as the first female NFL official in the Super Bowl 2021 her older brother Lea said it was due to her abilities, desire and commitment.

“To be where she is today is to her abilities, her desire, her commitment, her competitiveness to exceed. I think she’d rather not be known as the first female official just as an NFL official.”

Her other brother said while they were growing up they challenged each other and competed with one another… ultimately shaping who they are today.

“We pushed each other very hard when we played basketball one on one, she’s older than men and she challenged me. She made me better and I made her better.”

Sarah Thomas Husband

She is married to Brian Thomas since 2000.

Sarah Thomas Children

She is a mother of three children- two sons Brady Thomas and Bridley Thomas and a daughter Bailey Thomas.

Sarah Thomas Football Official

Thomas began her officiating career soon after graduating college. She began officiating youth and high school football games in her home state. In 2007 she joined Conference USA and worked in college football. After officiating a high school state championship game in Mississippi and an all-star game between teams from Mississippi and Alabama, Thomas received a call from Austin, the supervisor of Conference USA’s officials.

Austin hired her becoming the first woman to officiate a major college football game and a bowl game. Shortly after joining Conference USA, she started attending weekly officiating sessions in June and July with a handful of officials in New Orleans. In 2013 and 2014 she became part of the NFL’s development program. She officiated preseason games, including Chip Kelly’s first exhibition as Eagles head coach.

Sarah Thomas NFL Referee

Sarah became the first full-time female official in NFL history in April 2015 when she became a line judge. In 2017 she became a down judge, which means she lines up along the line of scrimmage and watches for, among other things, offside and illegal contact by defensive backs on receivers near the line.

She had joined NFL in 2013 when she was part of the NFL’s development program. She officiated preseason games, including Chip Kelly’s first exhibition as Eagles head coach.

In January 2019 she became the first woman to officiate an NFL playoff game. She worked as part of referee Ron Torbert’s crew as a down judge during the AFC divisional playoff game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the New England Patriots.

Sarah Thomas Super Bowl

On February 7, 2021 during Super Bowl LV Sarah will make history as the first woman ever to officiate in a Super Bowl. She will be serving as a down judge.

NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations, Troy Vincent, Sr., said in a statement, “Sarah Thomas has made history again as the first female Super Bowl official. 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.”

Sarah Thomas Uniform Number

She wears uniform number 53.

Sarah Thomas Salary

She earns an annual salary of around $250,000 as an NFL official.

Sarah Thomas Net worth

She has an estimated net worth $300,000.

Sarah Thomas Twitter

She has no Twitter account.