Maia Chaka hired as first Black female official in NFL history

UTSA Roadrunners head coach Frank Wilson (left) talks to head linesman Maia Chaka in the second half against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles at M. M. Roberts Stadium. Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

NFL hires Maia Chaka as first Black female official in league history

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 3/5/21

The NFL announced Friday that Maia Chaka has been added to the 2021 roster of game officials, making her the first Black woman to officiate at the NFL level.

"I've just been grinding for so long at this, it's just an honor to be able to join the National Football League," Chaka said Friday morning on "Today."

We welcome Maia Chaka to the 2021 roster of game officials!

Maia makes history as the first Black woman to officiate at the @NFL level. https://t.co/1NHls98Lwi pic.twitter.com/ycOxc6Cq1t
— NFL Officiating (@NFLOfficiating) March 5, 2021

Chaka has experience at the college level, more recently in the Pac-12, and also officiated XFL games and this year's Senior Bowl. She officiated some NFL preseason games in the past as part of the league's officiating development program.

Chaka joins Sarah Thomas as the league's only female officials. Thomas has been in the NFL since 2015 and worked Super Bowl LV between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers last month.

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