Back in 2020, the first all-Black referee crew officiated an NFL game.
Ron Torbert and his crew took the field Thursday night for the Raiders-Chargers game, and immediately made history.
For the first time ever, an all-Black on-field and replay crew is officiating an NFL game. The league also announced it was also the first game in which three women — one on field and two in the replay booth — will be on the same crew.
Maia Chaka will be the line judge, Artenzia Young-Seigler the replay official, and Desiree Abrams the replay assistant.
It was back in 1988 when Johnny Grier made history when he became the NFL’s first Black referee. He was in the league from 1981 through 2004, working during Super Bowl XXII during his first season as a ref.
That same night, the then-Washington Redskins made history when Doug Williams became the first Black quarterback in NFL history to win the Super Bowl.
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As for women, Sarah Thomas became the first full-time female official in NFL history in 2015 and then six years later in 2021, she became the first woman to officiate in a Super Bowl.
Tonight’s game is featuring a matchup between Easton Stick and Aidan O’Connell, which isn’t the sexiest quarterback matchup that fans could ask for.
Both teams are 5-8 on the year.
