Sarah Thomas will officially become the NFL's first full-time female official, the league announced on Wednesday.
Thomas, a line judge, has been an official at collegiate level for Conference USA since 2007 and became the first female to officiate a bowl game in 2009.
Having worked during training camps in New Orleans and officiated a preseason game in 2013, Thomas will not be complete stranger to the NFL.
However, Thomas – a finalist for an NFL job last season – will not be the first female to officiate an NFL regular-season game. That distinction belongs to Shannon Eastin, who was a replacement official in 2012 during a labour dispute between the league and the NFL Referees Association.
The league announced the hiring of nine new officials in total.
NFL vice-president of officiating Dean Blandino said: "Our incoming officials have all demonstrated that they are among the best in college football. We are excited about having them join us."