Kathryn Smith is the new ‘special teams quality control’ coach for the Buffalo Bills. Although most of the world has no idea what that title means, nor do I, the move makes Smith the first-ever full-time female member of an NFL coaching staff. Go Bills!
It’s certainly a historic benchmark for the NFL and a trend that keeps growing.
It was just last July when the Arizona Cardinals made Jen Welter the NFL’s first ever female coach. However, her position was as an “intern” and only for training camp and pre-season.
Smith now carries the torch. But what do we know about her? Not much really. But here’s what we are able to dig up.
She was formerly a coaching administrative assistant.
She’s worked specifically for head coach Rex Ryan for 7 years.
She spent the last 12 seasons working for the New York Jets, most notably as a player personnel assistant, but also served as a game-day/special events intern and was also a college scouting intern.
The 30-year-old was a three-sport athlete in high school at Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse. The sports? Swimming, lacrosse and bowling, of all things.
Reportedly, Smith’s brother played football for CBA and her father, Robert, became the team’s statistician. She then helped her dad during games her final three years of high school “finding a new passion.”
Smith has a college degree in sports management with a minor in business from St. Johns. She worked with the men’s basketball team there while in school.
She has her own player profile on Rotoworld. http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/11248/kathryn-smith
Okay, so that’s only about sevenish facts. But seriously, this girl is living the dream. And good for her.
She’s worked incredibly hard to get to this point, a kid who literally started from the bottom as an intern running errands, who now has the respect of an NFL coaching staff and enough trust to help breakdown film.
Now we have one reason to root for the Bills next year. One.
Photo: @BuffaloBills
Josh Helmuth is the editor of Crave Sports. Follow him on Twitter or like the channel on Facebook.
