Former Female Referee Files Major Lawsuit Against The NFL

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated Mar 31, 2026 5:22 PM ET

Former NFL referee Robin DeLorenzo has officially filed a lawsuit against the league.

DeLorenzo worked countless high school and college games before she was promoted to the NFL in 2022. When she received the exciting news from the league's senior vice president of officiating, it was considered the "most magical night" of her life.

Unfortunately for DeLorenzo, she was fired in February 2025. Not only is she seeking reinstatement, she's out for unspecified damages.

DeLorenzo is suing the NFL for allegedly displaying gender-based scrutiny during her three-year run.

"She worked her way through two decades of officiating -- breaking barriers, making history, and outperforming expectations at every level -- only to be met with hostility, retaliation, and systemic inequality the moment she stepped into a league that claims to champion opportunities for women," the lawsuit states, via the Associated Press.

"Instead of supporting one of the only women on its officiating staff, the NFL exposed her to unchecked harassment, denied her the resources given to men, manipulated her training and grading opportunities, and ultimately ended her career based on tainted evaluations created by the very people who discriminated against her."

Jan 5, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; NFL female line judge referee Robin DeLorenzo (134) and Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh watch from the sidelines in the second half against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.

Here's what we know so far.

DeLorenzo claims she was told to let her ponytail show out the back of her hat so the players and fans know a woman is on the field. There was also an alleged incident involving the Pittsburgh Steelers that resulted in her embarrassing herself.

"The lawsuit asserted that an NFL officials crew chief told then-Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin one day during training camp that she should be made to sing in front of everyone, like rookie football players, because she was a new official," per the report from the AP. "As a result, she said, she 'put on an utterly humiliating singing performance' in front of the Steelers' players, all the men on her officiating crew and her boss, who she said had promised not to record her but did so anyway."

Additionally, DeLorenzo is accusing her crew chief of constantly bombarding her with profanity-laced trash talk. She was also allegedly told to conduct a training opportunity that was for lower-level college officials.

The lawsuit states that DeLorenzo suffered irreversible damage to her career.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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