By Tiffany Williams –
There has been a significant number of groundbreaking achievements for women in the National Football League (NFL), marking a shift in a league long dominated by men.
Notably, Sarah Thomas made history in 2015 by becoming the first woman to officiate in the NFL on a full-time basis; she also officiated Super Bowl LV in 2021, showcasing her expertise and paving the way for future female officials.
Sandra Douglass Morgan broke barriers as the first Black woman to lead an NFL team, taking the helm as president of the Las Vegas Raiders, thereby setting a precedent for leadership roles within the league.
Additionally, Jennifer King became the first Black woman to serve as an assistant coach in the NFL, and Helen Dillon made history in 1968 by being the first woman to own an NFL team after inheriting a percentage of the New York Jets.
Despite the NFL’s historically male-dominated environment, women have consistently contributed to the league in various capacities beyond the field. From photographers and content managers to media relations professionals and player development specialists, women have left their mark throughout the league’s history. They have played critical roles in scouting, coaching, journalism, and other essential areas, thus enriching the NFL’s culture and operations.
In recognition of the vital contributions women make to the NFL, the league has held an annual Women’s Forum for the past nine years. Scheduled for February 26 during the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, this year’s Forum will be presented by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and aims to foster connections between 40 selected women and prominent leaders in professional football. Participants will gain insights and networking opportunities in key areas such as scouting, data & analytics, coaching, and football operations.
Since its inception in 2017, the NFL Women’s Forum has welcomed 310 participants, leading to over 250 professional opportunities across various levels of football. Notably, 29 NFL clubs have hired former Forum participants, and all 32 teams have engaged with the Forum in some form during the last year. In the 2024-25 season, the league achieved a record-breaking milestone, employing 15 full-time women coaches, which is the highest representation of female coaches in any male professional sports league worldwide.
The Forum has a remarkable legacy, with past participants like Heather Marini, who became the first female positional coach in college football history, Salli Clavelle, recognized as the NFL’s first Black female scout, and Jennifer King, the league’s inaugural Black female coach. Other notable alumni include Autumn Lockwood, a Super Bowl-winning coach, and Isabel Diaz, one of the few Latina coaches in the NFL. Impressively, 12 of the NFL’s current 15 full-time women coaches have participated in the Women’s Forum, underscoring its effectiveness in promoting female leadership within the league. For further details about this year’s participants, click the link provided.
AWS, as the presenting sponsor of the NFL Women’s Forum, will lead a roundtable discussion that introduces participants to the principles of data-driven decision-making and its applications across different facets of football, including scouting, player personnel, coaching, equipment management, football operations, and player health and safety. Since collaborating in 2017, the NFL has utilized AWS’s artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities to innovate and shape the future of football together. Through their partnership in the Women’s Forum, the NFL and AWS aim to empower participants with the knowledge necessary to harness data and analytics to enhance their impact within the sport.
For the second consecutive year, the NFL will also honor the legacy of Buddy Teevens, former head coach of Dartmouth College and a passionate advocate for the inclusion of women in football, through the presentation of the Buddy Teevens Forward Progress Award. The NFL, in collaboration with Women Leaders in Sports, has developed a specialized curriculum tailored for this year’s Forum participants.
The in-person Forum will feature engaging panel discussions and roundtable conversations with NFL executives, coaches, and representatives from all 32 clubs.
For the first time, the event will include a candid conversation featuring women scouts from 12 different NFL teams, moderated by ESPN football analyst Mina Kimes.
The scouts will share their unique journeys to the NFL, inspire participants seeking opportunities in the league, and discuss the evolving landscape of football for women.
Following Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, participants will have the exceptional opportunity to interact with leadership from the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles in a discussion hosted by NFL Network’s Kimmi Chex, highlighting how successful organizations prioritize diversity and inclusion.
Sports Insider Daily 