The National Football League will host its seventh annual NFL Women's Forum on February 28 and March 1 in Indianapolis during the 2023 NFL Combine as part of its ongoing, league-wide commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The program will connect 41 women, 60% of whom are women of color, with leaders in professional football to provide insight and networking opportunities for their careers in the areas of scouting, coaching and football operations.
There have been 26 NFL clubs that have hired past Forum participants and over 225 opportunities have emerged for women in all levels of football since its inception in 2017. Last summer, the NFL had 15 women in coaching roles during training camp – a record for any male professional sports league in the world.
For the first time since February 2020, the program will return to an in-person format during the NFL Combine. The two days of programming will include panel discussions, breakout sessions and networking activities with owners, executives, coaches, industry experts and hiring managers representing all 32 NFL clubs. The NFL partners with Women Leaders in College Sports to assist with the program and to create a development curriculum for the participants.
Past participants of the forum include: Brown University Quarterbacks Coach Heather Marini, the first female positional coach in the history of the sport; New York Giants Offensive Quality Control Coach Angela Baker, Cleveland Browns Assistant Wide Receivers Coach Callie Brownson; San Francisco 49ers Pro Personnel Analyst Salli Clavelle, the NFL's first Black female scout; Washington Commanders Coordinator of Football Programs, Natalia Dorantes, the League's first Latina to serve in a chief of staff role; Washington Commanders Assistant Running Backs Coach Jennifer King, the League's first Black female coach; Philadelphia Eagles Strength and Conditioning Seasonal Associate Coach Autumn Lockwood; Tennessee Titans Defensive Quality Control Coach Lori Locust, the first female positional coach in the NFL and first in Titans history; and Ashton Washington, the Chicago Bears' first female scout.
Featured speakers for this year's virtual forum include NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Co-Owner Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, as well as several NFL club owners, head coaches and general managers.
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