To make crucial calls on the biggest stage in football requires many esteemed qualities and the NFL saw those in Sarah Thomas when she received the call to be the first full-time female official in the NFL. Thomas climbed the full ladder of professional officiating, starting with a local meeting about how to get involved as a referee more than 20 years ago. She has been on the field from preps, to junior college, to major bowl games, and now the biggest stage for an official, the NFL. She hasn’t called a Super Bowl yet, an honor that only goes to longtime veteran officials, but she is on her way.

Thomas carries confidence and assertion based on this prestigious and earned position. She is a head line judge and with that comes tough game altering calls and interpretations. As an official in a league filled with big personalities on the sideline and on the field, one needs to be able to take a strong stand on instincts. When asked about how to project this force of personality Sarah stated:

“As women, the way we carry ourselves speaks a lot. Field presence is what they talk about. But you can still be a woman, you can be attractive, and whatever way you carry yourself speaks volumes to the reception. A man may feel as if may he can have his way or whatever, but I just think that when we carry ourselves with confidence, and walk into a room with confidence, the atmosphere kind of changes.”