Ownership to coaching and everything in between, women love football. Football moms are littered throughout the youth football league. Screaming encouragement or plays from the sidelines and bleachers, mothers are cheerleaders and more. It’s only the beginning. In recent years, women have broke out in the NFL as commentators and coaches and more recently… directors and even owners.
Football Moms
Bright lights glare off computer screens and screaming reverberates through the air. Working from the bleachers during practice is common for the football mom. They recognize players, plays and stats. What they don’t understand, they ask, and it’s not unusual to find a mom running with a young player along the sidelines. They have to know what they are saying and doing since no mother wants their child to feel inferior. The foundation is set.
Several players who started in youth football excelled in the NFL, Ben Roethlisberger, Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman, Jamal Lewis and Peyton Manning, being a few of them. These moms make a difference and they set the standards for players. 10 signs your a football mom by Vanessa Mejia names some key points in a football mom’s evolution.
Not every child who takes part in the youth league will play professional football, but football moms don’t forget what they learned. Understanding the game isn’t always about the sport. It is so much more than that. It’s also about bonding and life lessons. Some friendships formed over football last a lifetime.
Commentators and Coaches
Women don’t just talk football. They offer unique takes on stats, plans and plays as well as hosting shows, blogs and vlogs. There are multiple, popular, female sportscasters on several networks, including NFL Network, ESPN and Fox Sports.
Pam Oliver has been a staple sideline reporter and football analyst for Fox Sports Channel for 25 years. Born in Dallas, TX, she graduated from Florida A&M University and started her career as a sports anchor in Tampa, FL, in 1991. She went on to join ESPN in 1995 and moved to Fox Sports as a sideline reporter in 1995.
Kimmi Chex born Kimberly Chexnayder has been with NFL Media since 2018. A regular contributor to projects and shows, she has worked across multiple media platforms. Viewers can watch her analysis on Good Morning Football, NFL Network’s Total Access, and Fantasy Live to name a few shows.
Another layer of diversity was added to the NFL with the addition of women coaches. It’s a new day… a new world, and it’s looking great. Six of the eight female coaches appeared on the sidelines of the 2021 NFL Playoffs and history was made.
Jenifer King made history on her own in 2020 when she became Washington’s Commander’s first black female full-time coach working with the team’s offensive staff. In 2019 Lori Locust, assistant defensive line coack,and Maral Javadifar, assistant strength and conditioning coach, became the first full-time female coaches for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As a strength and conditioning coaches respectively, Cristi Barlett, joined the Tennessee Titans and Chelsea Romero joined the Los Angeles Rams. Callie Brownson made history as the first woman to hold the position of chief of staff with the Cleveland Browns.
Women are creating a lot of firsts in football. Let’s not forget Sarah Thomas. The first female official in NFL history.
NFL Front Office and Owners
2022 has started out as another interesting year for women in the NFL. The Las Vegas Raiders hired the first black female President in the NFL history. Sandra Douglas Morgan previously served as the executive director and chairwoman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Her ties to the NFL include vice chair of the Las Vegas Super Bowl Host Committee. She has also held a position on the board of directors for Allegiant Travel. Which has naming rights for the Raiders Stadium. On a side note. The Raiders have led the charge for diversity in the NFL. The first franchise to hire a head coach of Latin descent in 1979 with Tom Flores and African- American head coach in 1989, Art Shell.
Recently, it was announced by the Denver Broncos’ Condoleezza Rice, the former secretary of state, would join the team’s ownership group. Currently pending, to become official, the new ownership group needs 24 of the leagues 32 ownership groups approval at a special owners meeting later this summer. Definitely something to watch for.
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