Maia Chaka becomes 1st Black woman to officiate in NFL

Maia Chaka has been named to the 2021 NFL roster of officials, becoming the first Black woman on the officiating staff, the league announced Friday.

"I am honored to be selected as an NFL official. But this moment is bigger than a personal accomplishment. It is an accomplishment for all women, my community, and my culture," Chaka said.

Chaka entered the NFL's officiating development program in 2014 after serving stints at the collegiate level with the Pac-12 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," said NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent Sr.

Vincent continued: "As we celebrate Women’s History Month, Maia is a trailblazer as the first Black female official and inspires us toward normalizing women on the football field."