One of NFL’s First Female Refs Robin DeLorenzo Sues League for Discrimination After Firing

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Robin DeLorenzo, one of the first three women to officiate an NFL game and a trailblazing female referee, has filed a discrimination lawsuit against the league after being fired last year. She joined the league in 2022.

In the complaint filed in Manhattan federal court, DeLorenzo alleges she endured three years of “gender-based scrutiny, humiliation, and hostility. ” Not to mention, she claims she was the victim of harassment. Among the offending behaviors was allegedly being issued ill-fitting men’s clothing by the league, being forced to highlight her ponytail to make it obvious she is a female, and being subjected to derogatory remarks and retaliatory treatment by a crew chief.

DeLorenzo claims the league denied her the same resources and opportunities given to male officials, manipulated her training and evaluations, and ultimately terminated her career based on tainted assessments from those who discriminated against her. Fired female referee files discrimination lawsuit against NFL https://t. co/pwxMRtCocC pic.

twitter. com/icln1kDEvv — New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) March 31, 2026 Discrimination Lawsuit Puts NFL in Spotlight Over Robin DeLorenzo “[DeLorenzo] 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 reads. “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.