1st Female Official in NFL History Debuts as Line Judge

Official Shannon Eastin made NFL history as the first woman to ever officiate a sanctioned League contest, thanks in part to a storied collegiate career and to the ongoing labor dispute that has kept NFL referee favorites Ed Hochuli, Terry McAulay and other regulars shut out as football begins its pre-season schedule.

LJ Shannon Eastin is the first female official in NFL history

Shannon Eastin, who has served for four years as a Football Championship Subdivision (Division 1-AA) official in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, previously came under scrutiny from the NFL Referees Associations (NFLRA) for an appearance in the World Series of Poker, though the NFL maintains Eastin's past involvement is of no concern, with NFL spokesman Michael Signora confirming that Eastin, like all replacement officials on the field, had passed the NFL's extensive background check.

In June, the NFLRA filed an unfair labor practice charge against the NFL, alleging the League had employed bad faith practices in negotiating a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with its officials.

In August of 2011, NFL head of officials Carl Johnson anticipated the hiring of a female official, in an ESPN W article featuring Division I: Conference USA referee Sarah Thomas.

Instead of Thomas, however, it was Eastin who took the call to work Thursday's pre-season Chargers-Packers contest and though she may be seen as a "scab" or strikebreaker by those mindful of the present officiating work stoppage, Eastin nonetheless made history just by being on the field as the first female official in National Football League history.

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