The Buffalo Bills became the first team in NFL history to pay a woman to coach pro football after hiring Kathryn Smith to be on the special teams coaching staff.
Smith, who has been added as a “special teams quality control coach,” had worked with Bills head coach Rex Ryan during his time with the New York Jets, ESPN reports.
“Kathryn Smith has done an outstanding job in the seven years that she has worked with our staff,” Ryan said in a statement. “She certainly deserves this promotion based on her knowledge and strong commitment, just to name a couple of her outstanding qualities, and I just know she’s going to do a great job serving in the role of Quality Control-Special Teams.” (RELATED: Oakland A’s Hire First Female Coach in MLB History)
The Arizona Cardinals had a woman work briefly with their staff during the summer, and Ryan says he “consulted” with Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians about bringing a woman onto the staff.
Details of Smith’s contract have not yet been revealed.