In a virtual format this year, the forum will continue to develop a pipeline for female talent in football operations roles
NEW YORK (February 23, 2021) – The NFL will host the fifth annual Women’s Careers in Football Forum virtually Feb. 24-25 as part of its ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Forum will connect 40 women, 75% of whom are women of color, with leaders in professional football to help those women network and build relationships in the areas of coaching, scouting and football operations.
Participants taking part in the two-day virtual event will attend panel discussions, breakout sessions, and networking activities with executives, coaches, industry experts and hiring managers representing organizations such as the NFL and Women Leaders in College Sports. Most of the participants currently work in entry-level college football roles and will learn more about where their experiences can lead them in professional football.
Since 2017, the Forum has served to help develop a more diverse talent pipeline by connecting high-potential women to career opportunities in football. Over the past four years, 118 opportunities have emerged for women in football. Past participants of the forum include: Brown University Quarterbacks Coach Heather Marini, the first female positional coach in the history of the sport; Cleveland Browns Chief of Staff Callie Brownson; Tampa Bay Buccaneers Assistant Defensive Line Coach Lori Locust, the first female positional coach in the NFL; San Francisco 49ers Pro Personnel Analyst Salli Clavelle, the NFL’s first Black female scout; and Washington Football Team Assistant Running Backs Coach Jennifer King, the League’s first Black female coach.
Featured speakers include NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Jane Skinner Goodell, NFL Chief Football Administrative Officer Dawn Aponte, as well as three club owners, seven head coaches and six general managers, who are listed below.
NFL Club Owners
Dee Haslam, Cleveland Browns Manager and Principal Partner
Sheila Ford Hamp, Detroit Lions Owner and Chairman
Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Co-Owner & President of Glazer Vision Foundation
Head Coaches
Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills
Brian Flores, Miami Dolphins
Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
Robert Saleh, New York Jets
Bruce Arians, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mike Vrabel, Tennessee Titans
Ron Rivera, Washington Football Team
General Managers
Terry Fontenot, Atlanta Falcons
Brandon Beane, Buffalo Bills
Andrew Berry, Cleveland Browns
Brad Holmes, Detroit Lions
Nick Caserio, Houston Texans
Jon Robinson, Tennessee Titans
Jason Licht, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Day one (Feb. 24) of the Forum will be open for media attendance and the agenda is outlined below. To RSVP contact Kelsey Boyd (Kelsey.Boyd@nfl.com) or Jordyn White (Jordyn.White@nfl.com).
Women’s Careers in Football Forum Day One Agenda:
Wednesday, February 24th (Times outlined below are in Eastern time)
10:00 AM Welcome & Program Introduction
10:10 AM The Future of Football
Commissioner Roger Goodell and Jane Skinner Goodell with Callie Brownson, Kassandra Garcia, Jennifer King, and Lori Locust
11:00 AM Pathways to Leadership Positions in Football
Brian Flores, Terry Fontenot, Brad Holmes, and Robert Saleh
12:00 PM From ‘Firsts’ to the Future
Sheila Ford Hamp and Dee Haslam
2:15 PM How the Bucs Were Built
Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, Bruce Arians, Jason Licht
COURTESY NFLmedia.com
