First female NFL official to debut Thursday By The Sports Xchange

The home of the NFL's San Diego Chargers is shown in San Diego, California at Qualcomm Stadium March 15, 2011. (REUTERS/Mike Blake)

When the Green Bay Packers visit the San Diego Chargers Thursday night in the preseason opener for both teams, a little history will be made.

It will be the first time a female official has worked an NFL game, with replacement referee Shannon Eastin on the officiating crew made up of replacements as a lockout continues involving the regular league crews.

Eastin has been an official in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and attended the NFL’s officials training clinic in Dallas in July.