By: Alyssa Wilson

The NFL added Maia Chaka to its officiating roster on Friday. 

In this role, she becomes the first Black woman ever named to the NFL’s officiating staff in the league’s history. 

 

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

In 2014, Chaka participated in the NFL’s Officiating Development Program, which identifies top collegiate officiating talent to expose them to NFL officials’ experience to see if they can succeed working for the league. 

She officiated in college with assignments overseeing the Pac-12 Conference and Conference USA. 

Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the NFL, Troy Vincent Sr., said Chaka’s hard work earned her the position. 

“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,” he said. 

The HBCU graduate attended Norfolk State University and was a health and physical education teacher in Virginia Beach.