Sarah Thomas, NFL's 1st Full-Time Female Ref, Gets 2015 Season Assignment

— -- Sarah Thomas, the NFL's first full-time female referee, will spend the 2015 football season as a line judge with veteran ref Pete Morelli, according to a release from the NFL communications office today.

Thomas is one of 10 first-year NFL officials joining the 2015 roster, and the only woman.

Thomas, 41, has officiated college games since 2007 and was called up to the NFL this year.

The Mississippi native said it was her southern roots that gave her a love of sports but "extreme focus" that led her to make football history.

"Be very driven and dedicated to your job and training, just an immense amount of training," Thomas has said previously of what it takes to make it in the NFL.

Other things that help: "Getting around a great group of officials, getting a mentor, and I've been blessed to have that," she said.

Off the field, Thomas is a married mother of three and works as a pharmaceutical representative.

The NFL communications office did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment.