Robin DeLorenzo Is Suing the NFL for Gender Discrimination and the League Just Called It "Baseless"

Robin DeLorenzo broke barriers as one of the first three women to work full-time as an on-field NFL official. Now she is taking the league to court. The pioneering line judge filed a discrimination lawsuit against the NFL on Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, claiming she endured "gender-based scrutiny, humiliation, and hostility" over three years before the league fired her in February 2025.

From History-Making to Fired

DeLorenzo worked her way through two decades of officiating, breaking barriers and outperforming expectations at every level, according to her lawsuit. But the moment she stepped into the NFL, the suit claims, everything changed. She was one of three refs removed from their positions and reassigned to NCAA power conferences in 2025. The other two officials removed were James Carter and down judge Robert Richeson. At the time, it was reported that the refs could go through a developmental program and potentially regain their NFL jobs.

An NFL spokesperson on Tuesday called the lawsuit "baseless." But the complaint tells a different story, describing a pattern of discrimination that went well beyond the playing field.

The Indignities: Ill-Fitting Gear, Forced Performance, Retaliation

The lawsuit details specific grievances. DeLorenzo was provided with ill-fitting, man-sized clothing and instructed to showcase her ponytail through her hat. Repeated references to her hair made her consider cutting it off entirely. Her supervisor, Walter Anderson, former senior vice president of officiating, was the one who told her about the ponytail requirement. Anderson is named in the complaint.

The men's shorts were too large, forcing DeLorenzo to purchase her own and iron on the NFL patches herself. She worked games without weather-resistant shirts or jackets that fit. "At times, the weather was simply unbearable, but she worked through it nonetheless," the complaint reads.

The suit also alleges humiliation. DeLorenzo was made to sing in front of the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp as a "rookie" official. Anderson recorded part of her performance despite her asking him not to, the complaint says.

What DeLorenzo Wants Now

DeLorenzo is seeking reinstatement to her position along with unspecified damages. Her lawsuit argues that instead of supporting one of the only women on the NFL's officiating staff, the league exposed her to unchecked harassment, denied her the resources given to men, and manipulated her training and grading opportunities. The evaluations that led to her firing, the suit claims, were tainted by the very people who discriminated against her.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.