From Cheerleading To NFL Officiating: Robin DeLorenzo Became The Third Woman Ever To Join The NFL’s On-Field Official Roster
If the Dallas Cowboys versus Philadelphia Eagles game had you on the edge of your seat last week, you might have noticed a new the Down Judge was on the field.
In a game traditionally known for its testosterone, one female NFL official is starting to make waves– one call at a time.
In May of this year, the NFL announced its move to hire ten new on-field officials for the 2022 season. Among them was Robin DeLorenzo, who became the third woman to ever join the NFL’s on-field official roster.
Before Robin came Sarah Thomas, who was hired in 2015, and Maia Chaka, who was hired in 2021.
Robin is a New Jersey native who grew up cheerleading and watching her father, Rich, officiate games in their hometown.
“I’ve always loved the actual game of football since I was little. I gotta be honest, though. My father being an official, it never dawned on me because there were no women doing this,” she told CBS.
Eventually, though, Robin decided to stop looking for a trailblazer and became one herself. She first made history after becoming the only woman to regularly officiate high school football games in New Jersey. On top of that, Robin became the first woman to ever officiate a state championship game.
“I never realized how important it was for, you know, young girls to see representation everywhere in life,” Robin reflected.
And now, after twenty years of gaining on-field experience– in which she has seen about one hundred thousand plays–Robin has “moved up to the big leagues,” as some might say.
coachwood – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purpose only, not the actual person
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As a Down Judge, Robin is responsible for making sure that all players are lined up correctly. Then, she must watch for holding, mark the ball, and oversee everything related to the line of scrimmage. Robin is also the primary communicator for each play.
“I am the communication from the crew to the coach and from the coach to the crew. For the most part, it will come through me,” she explained.
And on top of literally keeping her eye on the ball, Robin must also maintain a thick skin in the face of upset. I mean, everyone knows that refs can get berated by fans and players alike.
She has not seemed to have any problem doing that so far this season, though, and attributes this feat to both her home state and the women who came before her.
“Perhaps it’s a North Jersey situation? I have very thick skin. I come from a long line of extremely strong women,” Robin revealed.
With her addition to the field this year, the 2022 NFL season now has the most diverse official roster ever. And for Robin, showing young girls what’s possible makes all of the traveling and game day hustle worth it.
“It’s one thing to tell them you can do anything, but it’s a completely different thing to actually show them. And it’s only recently I’ve realized that; how important it is to show kids that,” she said.
“Just keep working at something. Keep trying. If you love something that much, it’s worth it.”
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