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Sarah Thomas becomes first female on-field official for playoff game

Down judge Sarah Thomas limbers up before an NFL divisional playoff football game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the New England Patriots, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. (Steven Senne / Associated Press)
Associated Press

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Sarah Thomas is the first woman to work an NFL playoff game as an on-field official.

Thomas was the down judge in Sunday’s divisional round game between New England and the Los Angeles Chargers. That’s a first, according to the league’s Twitter account.

Thomas was hired in 2015 and was already the league’s first female full-time official.

Terri Valenti was the replay official in Saturday’s playoff game between the Chiefs and Colts, also a first.