The Super Bowl — the height of NFL football on a stage so big around 100 million people watched the game in some shape or form.
This male-dominated sport is an American favorite to men and women alike.
In fact, some women like the sport so much, they want to be in it. While no woman has played in the NFL, there are currently four female coaches in the league. Katie Sowers, the San Francisco 49ers offensive assistant coach since 2017, is the first woman coach to be in the Super Bowl. Sowers is also the first openly gay coach to be in the Super Bowl.
The last person you think would be coaching in the NFL, right?
Sowers is a great example of someone accomplishing their dreams, despite the critics and the odds. Among all the heat the NFL and the 49ers have received in the past couple years, this is a bright spot.
If you disagree with Sowers being in the league, then think about when Sowers was a young girl. Ever since she was a child, she wanted to play professional football. What parent or sibling is going to turn down that young girl’s dream?
She thought she was good at football and she was. So good, she ended up playing football professionally for the Women’s Football Alliance.
The line of thought on why a woman couldn’t coach NFL football because of their inexperience in the sport doesn’t follow with Sowers. Obviously, the 49ers saw her and thought she was an asset to their team, so they hired her on to the staff.
Well, Taylor has a short, distant connection to Sowers.
The women’s basketball Head Coach Jody Martinez used to be the head coach at Bethel College. During his time there, Bethel played against Goshen College, the team Sowers played basketball for.
While Martinez didn’t know her personally, he said he remembers her being very athletic and having a strong work ethic.
“I think since I knew of her from her college days, I was more excited for her compared to if I had no connection,” Martinez said.
Bet you didn’t see that coming.
All this is to say that sports can be a positive influence in men and women’s lives. If a woman chooses football as her sport, why shouldn’t we celebrate her?
“Sports serve as an incredible platform to build confidence, self-esteem and overall motivation to succeed,” said Erin Luthy, Taylor volleyball head coach. “It is important for the sports world to continue to advocate for men and women alike to be surrounded in a positive and growth oriented athletic environment.”
Who knows what goes on during 49ers practices? I’d like to think Sowers brings a different perspective than most people. There’s no way for us to know for sure, but she did just help coach a Super Bowl capable team.
Taylor is nowhere near perfect, but let this be an example to hire who best fits the job, even if it is someone who’s not the “typical” hire.
“Being a former Athletic Director and Associate Athletic Director for many years, my philosophy was always to hire the best qualified candidate for any job no matter the gender or race of the applicant,” Martinez said. “I hope that all organizations are hiring people that are the best candidate and best qualified for positions.”
