BY CHRISTINE VALDEZ

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

For years the NFL has been a male dominated sport, but heading into the 2012 season things are beginning to change.

Shannon Eastin will be making NFL history as she will be the first female refree in an NFL game. Eastin will be on the field to call the San Diego Chargers and Green Bay Packers preseason opener Thursday night.

Eastin, an Arizona native, has been in the on the field as a Football referee for 16 years, with her last four years working in the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference officiating Division I football according to Yahoo.

Eastin spoke to the Arizona Republic back in 1999 about having hopes to be a part of the NFL.

“It may sound crazy to some people, but I think I can be in the NFL some day,” said Eastin to the Arizona Republic. “I told them I would go to referee the NFL in Europe for five years if that’s what it takes.”

According to the Bleacher Report, Eastin will be a part of replacement referees in the NFL meanwhile the league is working on a new contract with it’s referees.

Eastin is the latest female to take part in a major sports league according to SLATE. In 1973 Bernice Gera became the first woman to become an umpire in a professional baseball game. Gera quit after her first game because she was harassed.