The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have hired two full-time female coaches, a first for a National Football League team.
In joining the franchise, Maral Javadifar and Lori Locust are the first female coaches in the history of the Buccaneers. Javadifar joins the strength and conditioning staff, while Locust will be helping with the defensive line position group.
“I know how hard it can be to get that first opportunity to coach at the highest level of professional football,” head coach Bruce Arians said on the team’s website. “Sometimes, all you need is the right organization to offer up the opportunity. The Glazer family and our general manager, Jason Licht, were extremely supportive of my decision, and I know Maral and Lori will be great additions to my coaching staff. I have known Lori going back to my days at Temple University and I’ve seen firsthand just how knowledgeable and passionate she is about this game. I was equally impressed with Maral’s background in performance training and physical therapy and I know she will be a valuable asset to our strength and conditioning program.”
Arians has been at the forefront of bringing women into coaching positions in the NFL. In 2015, while with the Arizona Cardinals, Arians hired the first female coach in the history of professional football, Jen Welter, who worked as an intern and was with the team only during training camp.
ESPN reporter and studio host Dianna Russini praised Arians.
“Little addition to @BruceArians hiring of two female coaches…he is one of very few HC’s who talks football with women reporters at an advanced level on top of being the first to say ‘if you don’t get this or don’t want to ask why… ask.’ Always appreciate his transparency,” Russini tweeted. “He also has told me I’m being an ass or not working hard enough. So…I don’t think he cares about gender.”
He also has told me I’m being an ass or not working hard enough. So…I don’t think he cares about gender
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) March 21, 2019
Javadifar has an extensive history in physical therapy and performance training after completing her residency at Virginia Commonwealth University. Locust previously served as the defensive line coach of the Alliance of American Football’s Birmingham Iron team. Welter is currently on the staff of the Atlanta Legends, also in the AAF.
This week’s hirings are the latest example of the NFL opening up opportunities to women. In January, Sarah Thomas became the first woman to referee an NFL playoff game. Before that, Thomas became the first female referee in a major college football game, a bowl game, and the first female referee in the NFL.
Katie Sowers with the San Francisco 49ers is the only other female coach in the NFL. She is also the first openly gay coach.
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