During what could’ve been an ordinary pre-season game, where the Arizona Cardinals faced the Kansas City Chiefs, NFL history was made. However, this groundbreaking game had nothing to do with the players, but rather the referee and Cardinals assistant coach.

           Jen Welters, an assistant coach for the Cardinal’s linebackers, is the first ever female coach in the NFL. That’s not all. Also on the field this Saturday game was Sarah Thomas. Thomas is not the first woman to ever officiate an NFL game, but she is the NFL’s first ever full-time employee.

           This made the pre-season game more than just some sports entertainment. This was a moment in NFL history, and proof of how far feminism has come. With moments as influential as these, it is only expected that the public is going to have a lot to say. Lots of people are supporting the two women and their careers, as Senior Casey Welsh declared, “I think it’s great that women are getting involved in football and this might help their sports standings.”

           Junior Matt Johnson agreed with fellow classmate Welsh. “My opinion on the first female ref/coach is that I think that it is amazing that the NFL has stopped being, well, sexist. I think it’s great for the female workplace that females are now being allowed to coach and ref football for the NFL,” said Johnson. “It is taking a big step forward which will soon be followed in other sports, I think.”

           The positive response was not only overwhelming, but refreshing for most people. To live in a time period where females can coach football has shown how far humans have really come according to fans of the sport. “I think it’s great; as long as someone’s a good coach or ref, their gender shouldn’t matter” junior Brooke Moretz stated.

          From gaining the right to vote in 1920, to coaching or refereeing a professional male sport in 2015, Neil Armstrong would say: “This is one small step for the National Football League, and one giant leap for feminism!”