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Biography
Sarah Thomas changed the game in the world’s most quintessential male-dominated sport—football—when she became the first female NFL official. Now she’s inspiring others to dream big and believe anything is possible.
She officiated her first game on September 13, 2015, between the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans—and on February 7, 2021, she became the first female to officiate a Super Bowl. Today, Sarah’s hat, whistle, and flag are on display at the NFL Hall of Fame and testify to her historic achievements. Named one of Sports Illustrated’s 100 most influential figures of all time, Sarah is no stranger to being the first to break gender barriers.
Since joining the NFL’s roster of officials, she has become a trail-blazing inspiration to women everywhere, embodying the notion that with a belief in self, inner drive, hard work, preparation, and a mindset of being the best you can be, no barrier or ceiling is impenetrable. Her story is captured in the five-part documentary series Earnin’ It, which premiered on Peacock NBC in 2022, focusing on the women in football who are opening doors and paving the way for others to follow in their footsteps. Sarah’s story also figures prominently in the wildly popular podcast of the same name, which also launched in 2022.
With the same unflappability that it takes to make a split-second call on the field, Sarah exudes equal confidence on stage as she shares key insights on overcoming adversity—and the odds—finding your passion while maintaining work-life. She speaks about overcoming odds/adversity, being a woman in a man’s world, and going after your goals for the right reasons.
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Breaking through is only the beginning. Staying at the top takes resilience, preparation, confidence, adaptability, and the ability to perform when expectations and scrutiny are at their highest. Drawing on hard-earned lessons from her groundbreaking career, Sarah Thomas takes audiences beyond the story of becoming “the first” to explore what it takes to build credibility, navigate change, overcome setbacks, make tough calls under pressure, and continually raise the bar.
A captivating storyteller with a natural sense of humor, Sarah connects with anyone who has ever been the first, the only, underestimated, or challenged to prove they belong. Through candid stories and practical insights that resonate across roles and industries, she shows audiences how to turn obstacles into opportunities, stay focused when the pressure is on, and sustain success long after the breakthrough moment.
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