Breaking Barriers: Two Female NFL Presidents Make History
When the Carolina Panthers face off against the Las Vegas Raiders this Sunday, it will be a groundbreaking moment for the National Football League. This game will mark the first time in NFL history that two female presidents will go head-to-head in professional football.
Kristi Coleman, President of the Carolina Panthers, and Sandra Douglass Morgan, President of the Las Vegas Raiders, are pioneering a path for women in the male-dominated world of sports leadership. They are part of a small but growing group of female executives in the NFL, with the distinction of being the only two female presidents among the league’s 32 teams.
"I’m really proud of this moment," says Kristi Coleman. "It shows you can be anything, as long as you do a good job."
Coleman, with a background in finance, took on the role of team president for the Panthers in February 2022 after serving as vice president and chief financial officer of Tepper Sports & Entertainment. The Panthers are owned by hedge fund founder David Tepper.
Sandra Douglass Morgan, on the other hand, was appointed as Raiders president by owner Mark Davis in July 2022, bringing with her over two decades of experience in gaming, legal, and corporate sectors.
"We want to celebrate the fact that these are new groundbreaking moments, but at the same time, we’re doing our job, just like every other president in the league, and making sure that we’re handling the day-to-day business operations," Douglass Morgan emphasizes.
The NFL has been making strides in increasing gender diversity within the league. Women now make up 42.5% of employees in the NFL League Office, a significant improvement from a decade ago. The league reports that 243 women hold front-office positions, and there are currently 22 women in full-time coaching roles, a record for any male professional sports league.
As part of their efforts to cultivate a more diverse and inclusive environment, the NFL hosts an annual Women’s Forum to provide opportunities for women at all levels of football. This initiative has resulted in more than 400 women participating in the program, with over 250 opportunities emerging for women in the sport.
Both Coleman and Douglass Morgan acknowledge the importance of women’s interest in the NFL and see flag football as another avenue for women to engage with the game. The NFL’s flag football program, with over 700,000 participants, serves as a pathway for women to play in college.
Despite being in the minority as female presidents in the NFL, both Coleman and Douglass Morgan credit their team owners for their support and encouragement in their roles. They offer advice to aspiring women looking to break into male-dominated sports leagues, emphasizing the importance of confidence, continuous learning, and self-belief.
As you navigate your career path, remember the wise words of Sandra Douglass Morgan: "Don’t let them see you sweat. Make sure you have a good group of people around you to support you through any of the guaranteed challenges that are going to be in your way."
At Extreme Investor Network, we celebrate and support the achievements of trailblazing women in the field of sports and business. Stay tuned for more exclusive insights and stories on breaking barriers and making history in the world of business news.