[PAR] [TLE] Sarah Thomas (American football official) [SEP] Sarah Thomas (born Sarah Bailey) is an American football official, and is currently an official for the National Football League (NFL).  Thomas was the first woman to officiate a major college football game, the first to officiate a bowl game, and the first to officiate in a Big Ten stadium.  On April 8, 2015, Thomas was hired as the first full-time female official in NFL history, and for the 2017 season, she is on the officiating crew headed by referee Ronald Torbert.  Thomas's NFL officiating uniform number is 53, worn in past seasons by umpire Garth DeFelice, line judge Bill Reynolds, and field judge Frank Kirkland. [PAR] [TLE] Garth DeFelice [SEP] Garth DeFelice is a former National Football League (NFL) umpire who served from the 1998 NFL season until 2013.  His uniform number was 53 (now worn by Sarah Thomas, the league's first-ever female official, and previously worn by Bill Reynolds and Frank Kirkland), and served in crews headed by Clete Blakeman from 2010–2013.  He has also worked under Mike Carey and Bill Leavy, under whom he officiated Super Bowl XL.  On May 4, 2014, it was announced that DeFelice would not return to the field for the 2014 season as he will become one of the regional supervisors for the officiating office.
[PAR] [TLE] Sarah Thomas ( American football official ) [ SEP ] Sarah Thomas ( born Sarah Bailey ) is an American football official , and is currently an official for the National Football League ( NFL ) . Thomas was the first woman to officiate a major college football game , the first to officiate a bowl game , and the first to officiate in a Big Ten stadium . On April 8 , 2015 , Thomas was hired as the first full - time female official in NFL history , and for the 2017 season , she is on the officiating crew headed by referee Ronald Torbert . Thomas 's NFL officiating uniform number is 53 , worn in past seasons by umpire Garth DeFelice , line judge Bill Reynolds , and field judge Frank Kirkland . [PAR] [TLE] Garth DeFelice [ SEP ] Garth DeFelice is a former National Football League ( NFL ) umpire who served from the 1998 NFL season until 2013 . His uniform number was 53 ( now worn by Sarah Thomas , the league 's first - ever female official , and previously worn by Bill Reynolds and Frank Kirkland ) , and served in crews headed by Clete Blakeman from 2010–2013 . He has also worked under Mike Carey and Bill Leavy , under whom he officiated Super Bowl XL . On May 4 , 2014 , it was announced that DeFelice would not return to the field for the 2014 season as he will become one of the regional supervisors for the officiating office .
Who is the firs woman to officiate a major college footbal game and wears the uniform number 53 of Garth Defelice?
Who is the firs woman to officiate a major college footbal game and wears the uniform number 53 of Garth Defelice ?
Sarah Thomas
Sarah Thomas