The NFL game that took place on Sunday between the Washington Football Team and Cleveland Browns saw a first in the league’s history, with two women coaching for the teams, and a third one being on the field as an official.
Jennifer King and Callie Brownson coached for the Washington Football Team and Cleveland Browns, respectively, and Sarah Thomas was a game official.
All three women already have trailblazing careers in football.
Thomas, who became a referee in 2015, is known as the first female official in NFL games. She is still the only female official in the league.
We’re more than proud of @JenniferKing5 and all the women who are breaking barriers in our league‼️ https://t.co/oW30Z1m05d
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) September 27, 2020
King, the first Black woman to coach in the NFL, served as a part-time intern for the Carolina Panthers, and started working for the Washington Football Team earlier this year.
Brownson played for the DC Divas, a football team in the Women’s Football Alliance, before being employed by the Cleveland Browns in February 2020, becoming the first woman ever to be hired as a full-time head coach for the club.
“Making history. Today’s game marks the first regular-season game in @NFL history to have a female coach on both sidelines + a female official,” the Browns tweeted Sunday.
Washington head coach Ron Rivera also shared a tweet, saying he was very happy for all the women taking part in the game, and was very proud of King.
As I am doing my final pregame prep a sense of pride has come to me. I can’t help but think of the historic significance of today. Very happy for all the women involved in our @nfl game & very proud of @JenniferKing5 #GameChanger
— Ron Rivera (@RiverboatRonHC) September 27, 2020
Another praising message for the historic event came from tennis legend Billie Jean King.
History is being made today when @WashingtonNFL plays @Browns. For the first time in history, during a regular season #NFL game, there will be a female coach on both teams and a female official.
If you can see it, you can be it!#RepresentationMatters #HistoryMatters https://t.co/GvEt4PL5nO
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) September 27, 2020
Aside from King and Brownson, the NFL currently has four other female coaches.