Female Ref Makes History at NFL Game
Published at(NEW YORK) — Millions of women had a rooting interest in Sunday’s NFL game between the Detroit Lions and St. Louis Rams without having to be a fan of either team — or pro football, for that matter.
On Sunday, 42-year-old Shannon Eastin became the first woman in NFL history to officiate a regular season game when she acted as a line judge in the Lions 27-23 victory.
Eastin wouldn’t have gotten the opportunity when she did had football owners not locked out the regular group of referees and inserted replacements over a contract dispute that is still ongoing.
Eastin arguably broke football’s glass ceiling last month when she worked a pre-season game. The NFL has already put her cap and whistle on display in the Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
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