Shannon Eastin facts for kids

Shannon Eastin is an amazing person who made history in American football! She was the very first woman to become an official in the National Football League (NFL). This means she helped make sure games were played fairly, just like the referees you see on TV.

Shannon Eastin: A Trailblazer

Shannon Eastin was born in 1970. She spent many years working as an official before joining the NFL. She worked for 16 seasons, officiating games for college teams in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. She also officiated many high school games. Her experience even included a game for the Arizona Cardinals.

Making History in the NFL

In 2012, the regular NFL referees were not working. Because of this, the NFL hired new officials to help with the games. Shannon Eastin was one of these new officials. She made history on August 9, 2012, when she officiated her first NFL game. It was a preseason game between the Green Bay Packers and the San Diego Chargers. She worked as a line judge, helping to watch the sidelines.

Her first regular season NFL game was on September 9, 2012. This game was played between the Detroit Lions and the St. Louis Rams. Many NFL players were excited that Shannon Eastin was the first female official. They supported her breaking this important barrier for women in sports.

Some people, like NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, believed in her. He said that Shannon Eastin was "well prepared" and would do "terrific." Even though her time as an NFL official was temporary, it was a big step. It showed that women could work in roles that were once only for men in the NFL.

Beyond the Football Field

Shannon Eastin is also very talented in judo, which is a type of martial art. When she was only 11 years old, she was the youngest judo athlete to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. This is a special place where top athletes prepare for the Olympics. She has won six national judo championships, showing her dedication and skill.

Today, Shannon Eastin owns a company called SE Sports Officiating. This company helps train other people to become officials for football and basketball games. She lives in Tempe, Arizona, and continues to inspire others with her achievements.

See also

• Sarah Thomas (American football official)
• Maia Chaka
• List of female American football players