NFL to appoint first permanent female official — reports
Thomas apparently set to be named as one of eight new officials for 2015 season
Los Angeles: The NFL will make Sarah Thomas its first female permanent official for regular-season games, US media reported on Friday.
The NFL did not immediately confirm reports in the Baltimore Sun and Los Angeles Times that the league had tabbed Thomas, a former official for the collegiate Conference USA.
NFL spokesman Michael Signora said the 2015 roster of officials had not yet been finalised.
According to the Times, Thomas will be one of eight new officials in the league.
The first woman to officiate in an NFL game was Shannon Eastin, who was a replacement referee during the 2012 lockout of officials.
Thomas herself has officiated in NFL preseason games as a line judge and was one of 21 finalists for a permanent job in the league two years ago, the Los Angeles Times reported.
