Seeing Katie Sowers become the first female coach in the Super Bowl was inspirational, but that was just a start. Washington Redskins’ head coach Ron Rivera hired Jennifer King as a full-time coaching intern. King becomes the first black women to become a full-time coach in NFL history.
King has worked with Rivera previously as an intern in 2017 while he was with the Carolina Panthers. In that role, she worked with wide receivers coach Lance Taylor and assisted him with drills and position meetings. After that, she worked in a similar capacity for the Arizona Hotshots, part of the Alliance of American Football that has since folded. Prior to coaching, King played quarterback in the Women’s Football Alliance. In her eleven year career, she was a seven-time All-American. Her natural position is wide receiver despite playing quarterback.
While her official title is intern, she will be paid like an assistant coach. Rivera said her familiarity with his coaching style influenced his decision to bring her on to his staff. When her contract expires, the team will evaluate whether or not to keep King on their staff.
King will be working with running backs coach Randy Jordan. Last season, she was a running back intern with Rivera and the Panthers. She spent much of her time working with Christian McCaffrey. With King, there are four full-time female coaches in the NFL. Currently, Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant defensive live coach Lori Locust and assistant strength and conditioning coach Maral Javadifar and Sowers on the 49ers are the only other full-time female coaches in the League.
We love seeing Ron Rivera pushing the culture forward by hiring King to his coaching staff. It’s 2020 and we’re only accepting progress and inclusion of all.
