When Jen Welter and Sarah Thomas stepped onto the field of the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Saturday night, each made NFL history separately. Then they took a brief moment to celebrate their achievements together.
Welter, who is completing a six-week coaching internship with the Arizona Cardinals, became the first woman to coach an NFL preseason game on Saturday when the Cardinals played the Kansas City Chiefs. Thomas made some history of her own by becoming the first woman to work an NFL preseason game as a full-time on-field official.
With all the progress woman have made in sports in recent months -- Becky Hammon coaching the San Antonio Spurs to a summer league title, Nancy Lieberman earning an assistant coaching job with the Sacramento Kings -- it’s nice to see the two women take a moment to appreciate these steps. They both deserve it.
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