The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have become the first NFL franchise to hire two female coaches, fulfilling a promise made by new head coach Bruce Arians.
The team announced Lori Locust as defensive line coach and Maral Javadifar as assistant strength and conditioning coach on Wednesday (March 21). Tampa Bay has never had a full-time female coach before.
"I know how hard it can be to get that first opportunity to coach at the highest level of professional football," Arians said in a statement released by the team: "Sometimes, all you need is the right organisation to offer up the opportunity."
Locust already has some NFL coaching experience, having worked with the Baltimore Ravens as a defensive coaching intern during last summer's training camp. She since worked as a defensive line coach for the Birmingham Iron in the Alliance of American Football League.
While Javadifar has no coaching experience, she brings a background in physical therapy and performance training.
"I really don't operate differently than any other coach," said Locust, per Sky Sports News: "I think there's a mutual respect. I certainly respect the players for all the work they put into their craft, and I honour that and they just want to get better at the end of the day."
It is another step forward in helping minorities find NFL roles by Arians. He hired the first female coach in NFL history, Jen Welter, in 2015, while his coaching staffs have become known for promoting African American coordinators faster than anyone else in the league.
COVER PHOTO: USA Today
Comments