Maia Chaka 1981 or 1982 (age 41–42))[1] is an official in the National Football League (NFL), wearing uniform number 100. She is the first black woman hired by the NFL as an on-field official.[2][3] The native of Rochester, New York[4] became the league's third female on-field official after Shannon Eastin and Sarah Thomas.

Officiating career

Chaka began officiating in 2007 at high school football games in Virginia. By 2009, she officiated the Virginia State High School Championship Game hosted in Charlottesville, Virginia at UVA Scott Stadium on the campus of the University of Virginia. In 2011, she began officiating Division I football with Conference USA.[1] Chaka served as an official for the 2013 Fight Hunger Bowl, along with Thomas. Chaka joined the Officiating Development Program for the NFL in 2014.[5] In 2018, Chaka began working regular season Pac-12 games. In 2019, Chaka began officiating NCAA Division I women's basketball.

In the 2020/2021 Pac-12 season, Chaka was the head linesman, including at the 2021 Senior Bowl.[5] On March 5, 2021, Chaka received her promotion as an on-field official for the National Football League.[6] Her first NFL game as line judge was on September 12, 2021, between the Carolina Panthers and the New York Jets.[7]

Education and non-officiating career

In 2000, Chaka graduated from Edison Career & Technology High School, Rochester.[1] She graduated from Norfolk State University in 2006.[5] Chaka began her career in education as a health and physical education teacher at Virginia Beach Central Academy in 2006 which later became Renaissance Academy.[7] In 2008, Chaka founded G.E.M.S. (Girls with Empowering Minds and Spirits), a club designed to promote self-esteem, academic achievement, and educational encouragement. In 2021, after 15 years with Renaissance Academy, Chaka accepted the position of Student Success Coordinator with An Achievable Dream Academy[8] in Virginia Beach.

In 2021, Chaka founded the nonprofit Make Meaningful Change (MMC).[9]



Awards

  • Elliot Cushing Award (2023)[10]
  • Orange Blossom Classic Breaking Barriers Award (2021)[11]
  • Black Enterprise 40 under 40 Class of (2021) [12]
  • ABC World News Person of the Week (2021)
  • Men for Hope Trailblazer Award (2019)
  • Virginia Beach Public Schools I Make a Difference Award (2019)
  • Virginia Beach Public Schools Teacher of the Year Award (2014)[13]
  • Virginia Beach Public Schools I Make a Difference Award (2014)
  • Virginia Beach Central Academy Reading Teacher of the Year Award (2009)[14]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Johnson, James (July 2, 2011). "Female ref is blazing a trail". Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York). p. 37.
  2. ↑ Austro, Ben (2021-03-05). "NFL hires Maia Chaka, the league's first Black woman official". Football Zebras. Retrieved 2021-03-08.
  3. ↑ "Maia Chaka becomes first Black woman named to NFL's officiating staff". NFL.com. Retrieved 2021-03-08.
  4. ↑ "'I thought I was being punked.' Rochester native Maia Chaka is NFL's first Black female referee".
  5. 1 2 3 "Meet Maia Chaka, the NFL's first Black female official for 2021 season". MSN. September 10, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  6. ↑ "NFL makes Maia Chaka its 1st Black female official". TODAY.com. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  7. 1 2 "Maia Chaka Is The 1st Black Woman To Officiate An NFL Game". NPR.org. September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  8. ↑ "An Achievable Dream". achievabledream.org. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  9. ↑ Patterson, Arielle (2022-08-02). "Maia Chaka Makes NFL History". Coastal Virginia Magazine. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  10. ↑ "Press Radio". www.pressradio.org.
  11. ↑ "Orange Blossom Classic Makes Triumphant Return". www.famu.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  12. ↑ negrawithtumbao (2021-03-07). "Maia Chaka Makes NFL History As The First Black Female Referee". Black Enterprise. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  13. ↑ Rubama, Larry. "Beach teacher chosen for NFL officiating program". pilotonline.com. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  14. ↑ Rubama, Larry. "Beach teacher chosen for NFL officiating program". pilotonline.com. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
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