So the NFL wants to reach women?

As a former "Pasco Pirate" growing up in small town Dade City, FL - football is EVERYTHING TO ME. From the time I was able to stand, I was by my grandpa's side watching Roger Staubach march down the field with his 'boys while cheering on the hapless BALTIMORE Colts (and crying each time they'd lose - because that's what they did before someone named Peyton and a city named Indianapolis came into play one middle-of-the-night that will live in infamy.)

So yes, I've forever been passionate about the NFL and its role in American culture. But it seems the relationship between women and the NFL has stalled and if anything is moving backwards.

Now I know people will say, "It's more popular than ever with women." Sure, maybe ratings-wise. But why? Are women really gravitating to football's thrilling action, inspiring stories, and understanding its unifying power? Doubtful. In fact, I'd go so far to say the vast majority of women today aren't getting that message at all.

Growing up in central Florida, (alongside my dear schoolmate Michael Penix, SENIOR) football brought us together. Our Pirates were state champions, and we cheered them on each and every Friday night, following them all over the state wherever they'd play.

Football was the great equalizer - all races played and more importantly all types of people were fans, from little old white ladies (snowbirds from Michigan) to AME Black preachers; from migrant farm workers to preppy doctors and lawyers; from redneck Republicans to local Democrat politicians. Football remains the one national sport that is truly inclusive for people from all backgrounds to root for and against. It has always been a unifier in a time of discord.?But today's women are certainly not being broadcast that message.

As much as I love the NFL, it seems to be losing its appeal to some segments of the population, especially women and girls. For instance - Why are there no women wanting to break into the NFL as players? Why are there so few female coaches, staff, and executives? How can we break down the barriers of accessibility and opportunity for women in football?

We are slipping from the GenX'er mindset of "Hell, I can do that - and maybe even better than the boys" to sadly, "O-M-G - A popstar is dating the tight end of the Chiefs!!!"?

The NFL has so much potential to attract and retain more female fans and participants, but it needs to rethink its marketing strategies and messages as well as its very corporate makeup and programs.

Let's take Formula 1 racing - F1 Academy is proving WOMEN CAN RACE. Legendary world champions like Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel have also fully thrown their support behind it, too. In the next decade we will more than likely have a woman driver.

Where are we with that for the NFL?

Where are Mahomes, Kelce, King Henry, and hell, f'ing Tom Brady in this conversation to reach out to young girls to invite them in?

WHERE and WHO is our DITKA?

The NFL needs to better amplify stories of women who are changing the game, like Katie Sowers, the first woman and openly gay coach to work in a Super Bowl, or Catherine Raiche, the first Black woman to lead an NFL team as the president of the Las Vegas Raiders.

It needs to celebrate the achievements of female players, like Sam Gordon, who started playing tackle football at 9 years old and led a legal battle for girls' tackle football to be sanctioned in Utah.

It needs to partner with brands and celebrities that resonate with female audiences, like Kristin Juszczyk, a fashion designer and Towson alum who sewed up a licensing deal with the NFL to create apparel for women.?

The NFL also needs to tap into the emotions and passions that drive female fans, like me, who grew up loving the sport and its legends. I still get emotional when I think about some of the most memorable moments in NFL history, like Elway's perfect cross pass (throwing so hard he literally indented the cross pattern in his receiver's chests), Malcolm Butler's goal-line interception, Adam Vinatieri's blizzard kicks.

And why does the NFL not shout from the rooftops it more than any other sport has had the power to take lower income people - people like Kurt Warner from stocking grocery store shelves and Malcolm Butler working at Popeye's - to the highest echelon of success?

I still cry thinking of Patriots players doing snow angels (so many of them underdogs passed over by other teams who finally made it) or tiny Donald Igwebueke's 57-yard field goals kicked BAREFOOT.

These are the moments that make us fall in love with the game, and the NFL needs to remind women why to love it - not because of Taylor Swift, halftime shows or commercials.?

It's a total no-brainer for the NFL to grow its fanbase and its impact by embracing and empowering women in football. Start POP football programs for girls exactly like the boys. Show them how to take and recover from a hit. Show them we are FOOTBALL (even if named incorrectly) not SOCCER.

I hope NFL marketers like Tim Ellis are listening, and I hope they're ready to take action.

I may not have made it to my dream of being an NFL quarterback or wide receiver, but I do know I'm not the only woman who loves football, and...

We ain't...

going nowhere.

We ain't...

going nowhere.

We can't be stopped now - Because we're BAD GIRLS FOR LIFE.

Here to stay, and here to play. ???

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