In a historic first for the National Football League, an all-Black officiating crew led by referee Ronald Torbert took the field Thursday night for the high-profile AFC West matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Las Vegas Raiders. Along with the milestone of having the league’s first entirely African-American officiating team work a game, the crew also featured a groundbreaking three women, comprising the most ever to officiate an NFL game.
Line judge Maia Chaka, replay official Artenzia Young-Seigler, and replay assistant Desiree Abrams made up the trio of trailblazing female officials. Their participation exemplified the NFL’s expanding efforts towards inclusion, now encompassing on-field officials rather than just team front office personnel and coaching staffs.
The assembling of Thursday night’s officiating team symbolized a continuing push by the NFL over recent years to uphold greater diversity policies and break down barriers. Just last week, the league announced history had been made with people of color and women now representing 51% of all club personnel—the first time ever a majority has been reached. There are also currently five African-American team presidents across the NFL along with nine black general managers serving in full-time capacities.
While Thursday night’s all-Black crew marked the first time that distinction was achieved on a “Thursday Night Football” broadcast, it was not entirely unprecedented in league history. On November 23, 2020, referee Jerome Boger led an all-African-American seven-person officiating team working the Los Angeles Rams versus Tampa Bay Buccaneers matchup. That crew also featured umpire Barry Anderson, side judge Anthony Jeffries, line judge Carl Johnson, down judge Julian Mapp, field judge Dale Shaw, and back judge Greg Steed.
Boger himself had previously made history, when in 2006, he became just the third black head referee in NFL history after trailblazers Johnny Grier and Mike Carey. However, Thursday night was the first occasion an all-Black and majority female crew worked a primetime game. It marked an important achievement for diversity and inclusion efforts across the league.
With African-Americans still dramatically underrepresented among NFL officials, the milestone of having an all-black crew work the historic Chargers-Raiders AFC West showdown put a significant spotlight on the issue. It highlighted the progress still needed, while also serving as an inspiration for younger generations eager to get involved with officiating. As the diversity within both the league and its fanbase continues expanding, Thursday night’s groundbreaking officiating team symbolized a model for better representing modern audiences.
The NFL has come under criticism at times for falling short on representation when it comes to important on-field roles rather than just ownership suites and front offices. However having an all-African-American refereeing crew work the primetime Thursday night game, supported by multiple female officials including one on the field, demonstrated proactive efforts to lead by example and manifest inclusiveness where it matters most—on the gridiron itself.
