A decade after Jen Welter shattered barriers as the NFL’s first female coach, women are booming in the league. Their influence is becoming increasingly powerful with each year that goes by. When Bruce Arians hired women to be full-time coaches for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, that made history. It’s hard to overstate how much this one groundbreaking decision has changed the prospects of NFL coaching staffs. This evolution represents a deep commitment to strengthening diversity and inclusion. It emphasizes the growing appreciation for women’s role in the sport.
In 2020, Welter still made history by becoming the first woman coach ever featured in Madden video games. Her inclusion in the new Superstar KO mode cemented her trailblazing legacy within the industry. This year, in 2023, the NFL took a courageous step forward. They made it a condition of receiving this funding that teams interview minority candidates and women for top-level positions. The purpose of this policy was to ensure representation and diversity at every level of the organization.
Ron Rivera, head coach of the Washington Commanders, testified about the record increase he’s seen in the ranks of women in football operations. The leap is an astounding 185% over just a few years. The NFL’s 2023 Racial and Gender Report Card highlighted that there were ten women serving as full-season or full-time coaches in the league. This is a significant jump compared to past years and demonstrates a positive move toward increased inclusivity.
In a season where Amelia Wilson was one of 15 women on NFL coaching staffs, she was a dominating presence. In January, she made news again when she interviewed for the Tennessee Titans’ open general manager position. Her singing and passion proved no match for Hollywood, and she ultimately failed to receive the role. Wilson’s aspirations illustrate the increasing power of women within football operations. This field has already seen a truly astounding 187% jump as of the end of August 2024.
The trend isn’t just occurring on the sidelines — women are now leading in other departments within teams as well. Yet every single NFL team’s scouting department has at least one woman on staff. On top of that, women are taking huge steps in analytics, front offices, strength and conditioning and training rooms.
Reflecting on her experiences, Amelia Wilson remarked on the importance of this growth, stating, “I think we all got into it because we love football the same as everyone else does. So for us, I think now we’re at a point where we just want to continue seeing the growth as far as women in football and just continue it, just making it the norm.”
Women’s flag football is key in developing the next generation of NFL coaches. It provides a very impressive pipeline trumpeting their development. Welter proposed that flag football be a major piece in cultivating talent and addressing the lack of women coaches at all levels. Flag football is slated to make its Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028. This thrilling advancement together with its imminent ascendance to being recognized as an NCAA sport will provide new opportunities for women athletes and future coaches.
At last check, 65 schools have taken the step to get flag football up and running at the club or varsity level. Such a foundation can cultivate this new talent that might someday filter into professional football’s coaching pipeline.
The NFL is still committed to increasing the diversity of their ranks with programs designed to boost representation. In Madden 2025, Scott became the first woman broadcaster to be included in a professional football simulation game. The “Create a Coach” function has expanded to include ten female avatars, further acknowledging women’s contributions to the sport.
When asked about the systemic changes taking place, Bruce Arians stated, “It was just a matter of somebody doing it.” His personal choice to hire Welter as a linebackers coach reflected his conviction that qualifications were more important than gender.
Ron Rivera emphasized that success hinges on merit, stating, “If you know your stuff and you can help them.” He acknowledged that women must navigate challenges but encouraged resilience and determination: “They got to be willing to put up with it and deal with it and continue to fight and earn your stripes.”
The fight toward achieving equality in coaching and football operations is far from over. With more internships evolving into full-time positions and assistant roles for women, there is optimism among league officials and coaches about a more inclusive future.
“It’s been exciting to see internships turn into full-time opportunities and assistant coaches,” said an anonymous NFL executive. “The evolution has been exciting to see and it’s exciting to be part of it as well.”
Today, there is a bigger push than ever to increase the number of women in the coaching ranks. Beyond these appointments, there’s hope that women will soon be playing even larger roles inside NFL teams. Some within the league predict that it is only a matter of time before a woman secures a coordinator position.
Welter shared her optimism for this continued advancement. She promised that there will “absolutely” be a female coordinator in the next five to seven years.
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