Sarah Thomas

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.