Maia Chaka: NFL appoint first black female referee

Chaka has been named to the official roster of game officials for the 2021 season which will begin in September

Referee Maia Chaka (Getty Images)

The NFL have appointed their first ever black female referee, it has been announced.

Maia Chaka has been named to the official roster of game officials for the 2021 season which will begin in September.

“I am honored to be selected as an NFL official,” Chaka said upon the announcement.

“But this moment is bigger than a personal accomplishment. It is an accomplishment for all women, my community, and my culture.”

Chaka enters the NFL after a standout collegiate career including spells officiating in the Pac-12 Conference and Conference USA.

“Maia’s years of hard work, dedication and perseverance – including as part of the NFL Officiating Development Program – have earned her a position as an NFL official,” NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent Sr said.

“As we celebrate Women’s History Month, Maia is a trailblazer as the first black female official and inspires us toward normalising women on the football field.”

In February, Sarah Thomas made league history when she became the first woman to referee in a Super Bowl.