Are Women Allowed To Play In The NFL?

This is a question that has been asked many times, and with good reason. Women have been playing football for years, but only recently have they begun to be taken seriously as potential players in the National Football League. While there are no formal rules barring women from playing in the NFL, the league has been slow to embrace them. This blog will explore the history of women in football, the current state of play, and whether or not the NFL is ready for female players.

Introduction

The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league consisting of 32 teams, divided equally between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). The NFL is one of the four major North American professional sports leagues, the highest professional level of American football in the world.

The NFL was formed in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) before renaming itself the National Football League for the 1922 season. The NFL agreed to merge with the American Football League (AFL) in 1966, and the first Super Bowl was held at the end of that season; the merger was completed in 1970. Today, the NFL has partnership pacts with two other leagues: National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Canadian Football League (CFL).

History of Women in the NFL

In 2014, a woman named Sarah Thomas became the first female official in NFL history. In 2015, Jen Welter became the first woman to ever coach in the NFL when she was hired by the Arizona Cardinals as a linebackers coach during their preseason. In 2016, Kathryn Smith became the first full-time coaching assistant of any kind when she was hired by the Buffalo Bills as their special teams quality control coach. Katie Sowers also made history in 2017 when she became the second full-time woman coaching assistant in the NFL, and the first openly gay one, as an offensive assistant for the San Francisco ers. These women have all made great strides for female inclusion in what has been a male-dominated sport for many years.

The very first woman to ever play in an NFL game was Nancy Lieberman who did so in a exhibition game in 1985. This game was put on by USFL, which was a pro football league that existed from 1983 until it ceased operations in 1986. Lieberman played quarterback for both teams that played against each other that day. Unfortunately, no women have been able to play in an official NFL game since then.

There have been several other instances of women playing football professionally since Nancy Lieberman made history back in 1985. In 2001 and 2002, Lisa Playter played for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Katie Hnida became the first woman to ever score points in a college football game when she kicked two extra points for Colorado against Texas Tech in 2003. placekicker Lauren Silvers also made history in 2017 when she became the first woman to sign a contract with an NFL team when she signed with the Atlanta Falcons, though she was later released before playing in a game.

As of now, there are no women actively playing football in any professional capacity but that does not mean that there are not women interested and working hard to change that fact. On January 28th, 2020 it was reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the NFL is hoping to hire its first full-time female coach “as soon as possible.” There are also currently several women serving as assistant coaches at different levels of football including high school, college, and even some professional leagues like the XFL which is currently set to relaunch its season later this year. It is clear that there is growing support for female inclusion in football at all levels and it seems only a matter of time until we see a woman playing on Sundays just like Sarah Thomas did back in 2014.

Current Women in the NFL

Despite the fact that there have been women playing football since the early 1900s, it wasn’t until the late 1990s that a woman tried out for the NFL. In tryouts for the Dallas Cowboys in 1997, wide receiver Lauren Silber caught the attention of then-coach Chan Gailey. Gailey was so impressed with Silber’s performance that he invited her to train with the team during the off-season. She became the first woman to ever be a part of an NFL training camp.

Since Silber’s groundbreaking tryout, a number of other women have attempted to join the ranks of the NFL. In 2012, kicker Sarah Thomas became the first woman to officiate an NFL game when she worked a preseason match between the New Orleans Saints and Jacksonville Jaguars. In 2015, Jen Welter made history when she was hired by the Arizona Cardinals as a coaching intern, making her the first woman to hold such a position in the NFL. Currently, there are no women on any NFL roster, but that could change in the future.

Why Aren’t More Women in the NFL?

There has been a marked increase in the number of women playing football at the collegiate level in recent years. However, there are still far fewer women playing the sport than men. There are a number of factors that contribute to this disparity, including differences in physical strength and size, social expectations and stereotypes, and opportunities for participation.

There is no denying that football is a physically demanding sport. The players must be strong and fast in order to be successful. Women, on average, are not as physically strong as men. This can be a barrier to entry for many women who want to play football.

In addition to the physical challenges of the sport, there are also social expectations and stereotypes that can discourage women from playing football. Football is often seen as a man’s sport, and women who play are often seen as less feminine or not truly dedicated to the game. This can make it difficult for women to feel like they belong in the football community.

Lastly, there are simply fewer opportunities for women to play football than there are for men. There are far fewer women’s football teams at all levels of competition, which can make it difficult for talented female players to get the practice and experience they need to be successful at the highest levels of the sport.

Conclusion

Yes, women are allowed to play in the NFL. There are currently female players in the league, and there have been female players in the past. The NFL has no formal policy against women playing in the league, and any woman who meets the necessary qualifications is welcome to try out for a spot on a team.