Athletes Around The Country React To First All African-American NFL Referee Crew

A bit of history is happening on Monday Night Football tonight. Today marks the first time in NFL history that an all African-American referee crew will be officiating. Athletes around the country have been reacting to this historic night on social media.

What a proud day for the entire sports world to see all Black referees officiating an NFL game! I never thought I’d see the day this would happen in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/nbtv2UbmdB

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) November 24, 2020

👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿 https://t.co/LIfpSSyHpq

— Chris Bosh (@chrisbosh) November 24, 2020

This is incredible! First all Black officiating crew! Historic moment without question! pic.twitter.com/CVIb957pPV

— Rodger Saffold (@Rodger_Saffold) November 24, 2020

History happens tonight!

The #NFL’s first-ever officiating crew to feature all-Black referees will work the #LARvsTB game. #HistoryMatters

Via @YahooSports pic.twitter.com/RTMYHTfPhR

— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) November 23, 2020

Sincere Congratulations. These guys represent the first All-African-American officiating crew in the history of the National Football League. Let’s remember their names. Their contribution! pic.twitter.com/Ge2jU5WZYk

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) November 24, 2020

Many more people around the world of sports are sharing their best wishes for this moment in NFL history.

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Wayne Mackie, the NFL’s vice president of officiating evaluation and development spoke about having the first all-black officiating crew last week.

“I think we should celebrate it because it’s a testament of us standing on the shoulders of those who came before us,” Mackie said via The Undefeated. “We are standing on shoulders of giants who plowed their way through and had to deal with what they had to deal with to allow us, in 2020, to have an opportunity to go out there and officiate a football game. Hopefully we’re breaking down barriers where this doesn’t even become an issue or a conversation anymore.”

The NFL didn’t have a single African-American ref until 1964, when Burl Toler broke that initial barrier. I think most people can agree that while this is a significant step, progress should not stop here. We should continue to build on this moment.

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