If replacement referees remain entrenched by Week 1 of the regular season, Shannon Eastin will make NFL history once again.
Earlier this month, Eastin, 42, became the first female to work on an NFL officiating crew in the preseason. On Sept. 9, she's scheduled to be on the field when the Detroit Lions host the St. Louis Rams, according to Mike Jurecki of Xtra Sports 910 (via ProFootballTalk.com).
Eastin is a referee in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, college football's second-highest level, and a 16-year veteran of officiating. Her cap worn in her preseason debut was sent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The caveat to all this is the possibility locked-out officials and the NFL strike a deal before next week. In that case, history will have to wait, and Eastin's association with replacement officials likely will preclude her from ever making it to the game's highest level.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @danhanzus.
