Terri Valenti tabbed NFL's first female instant replay official

Terri Valenti will serve as the first female instant replay official in NFL history, the league announced on Thursday.

Valenti's new role makes her the second female official in three years hired by the NFL, joining Sarah Thomas.

Valenti will be responsible for initiating replays inside the final two minutes when head coaches are unable to issue challenges, according to the Sporting News. She will also aid in reviewing other in-game replays.

Valenti previously worked in instant replay in the NFL for the past five seasons, serving as an instant replay communicator from 2012-15 and a replay assistant in 2016.

She was the first woman to officiate a professional football game with the now-defunct United Football League in 2009. Valenti was also named Official of the Year in the Arena Football League in 2015.

The NFL also announced on Thursday that all 17 referees from last year's roster will return for the 2017 season.