Rochester’s Maia Chacka Becomes The First Black Woman To Officiate In The NFL

Yesterday, Rochester’s own Maia Chaka was officially welcomed to the 2021 roster of game officials by the NFL and has since made history, becoming the first Black female official since the NFL was formed in 1920.

Chaka, a graduate from Edison Career & Technology High School, gave a statement to the NFL, saying:

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

Chaka was called by NFL vice president of officiating evaluation and development Wayne Mackie on March 1.

“He goes, ‘Welcome to the National Football League,’ and I just went nuts,” Chaka said. “I asked him, ‘Hey are you punking me, you’ve gotta be kidding me,’ because I’ve been at for so long I just never thought the day would come. I just enjoyed working.”

In addition to officiating, Chaka works as a health and physical education teacher at Renaissance Academy in Virginia Beach, Virginia where she has been working with at-risk youth for the past 10 years.

We welcome Maia Chaka to the 2021 roster of game officials!

Maia makes history as the first Black woman to officiate at the @NFL level. https://t.co/1NHls98Lwi pic.twitter.com/ycOxc6Cq1t

— NFL Officiating (@NFLOfficiating) March 5, 2021

Source:
RochesterFirst.com