Cast your Vote

Posted 1/27/2026

Females in coaching is not a new phenomenon. Oftentimes, however, brilliant female coaches are confined to women’s sports, making it difficult to imagine a woman being the "head honcho" of an NFL organization. While the barrier remains firm, the path forward varies wildly by league. In basketball, a breakthrough may be imminent because female head coaches could exploit NBA talent like never before. A tactical mind like Becky Hammon, paired with the sheer physical talent of NBA players, might prove to be an extraordinary combination. While the athletes of the WNBA are highly skilled, there remains a significant gap in leaping, strength, and stamina compared to NBA players; an elite female coach might find that her schemes translate even more effectively when executed by the hyper-athletic talent of the men's league.

The NFL, however, remains a distinct aberration. Aside from the growing presence of female referees, women remain scarce in the sport’s primary leadership tiers. Currently, six women hold prominent coaching or strength positions in the league:

• Allison Haley (Chicago Bears)

• Kaelyn Buskey (Baltimore Ravens)

• Genevieve Humphrey (Carolina Panthers)

• Maral Javadifar (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

• Autumn Lockwood (Philadelphia Eagles)

• Haley Roberts (Las Vegas Raiders)

Despite this "pipeline," the 2026 hiring cycle proved that the top job remains a closed door. The NFL season has ended, and "Black Monday"—as it is affectionately known throughout the league—has come and gone without a single woman being interviewed for a head coaching position to our knowledge. While several vacancies existed, they were filled by established male veterans; Mike McCarthy was tapped by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Jim Harbaugh was hired by the New York Giants. Despite the availability of roles, no offer was extended to a woman.

Ultimately, basketball may offer a more viable pathway for women to transition into coaching male professional sports. Baseball, too, remains a frontier waiting to be conquered. While there has not been a female MLB manager yet, the possibility is growing. Rachel Balkovec already broke significant barriers as the first female full-time manager of a major league-affiliated team, the Tampa Tarpons (a subsidiary of the New York Yankees). As these small cracks in the ceiling appear in MLB and the NBA, the NFL continues to stand as the final, most resistant fortress against female leadership at the highest level.