It’s something that we don’t always think about – while the NFL has seen its share of female coaches, lawyers, and more, are there any female NFL owners? For me, this question has taken on a personal meaning, since I’m female and passionate about football. And I’m here to share what I’ve learned on this journey.
First of all, in the past couple of decades, the NFL has seen its share of female owners. The first female owner of an NFL team was Martha Firestone Ford, when she inherited the ownership of the Detroit Lions in 2015. Soon, others followed. Virginia Halas McCaskey, the daughter of former Bears owner, George Halas, became the majority owner of the Chicago Bears in 1983. And Sheila Ford Hamp, Martha Firestone Ford’s daughter, took over the Detroit Lions in 2018.
That said, the number of female NHL owners is still very small. Afterall, the total number of NFL teams stands at 32, and only three of them have female spearheads. This means that the percentage of female NFL owners is just one percent.
Yet while this number might seem low, it does indicate progress. Before Ford, Halas McCaskey, and Hamp, there were only two women with a significant stake in an NFL franchise. In 1957, Helen Winter Yaussy became the co-owner of the Baltimore Colts. Six years later, Corinne Griffith bought the Washington Redskins.
Interestingly, the number of female sports team owners isn’t limited to the NFL. There are several NBA and MLB team owners, too. The most notable female sports owner is probably Jeanie Buss, the majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers.
At the end of the day, though, these female owners are still too few. The number of women staying at the leadership table and having a say in the strategic decision-making still remains alarmingly low. We also see the same story in all other professional sports leagues.
This isn’t something we should accept with open arms, though. On the contrary, we should stand to fight for a more inclusive and gender equal sports landscape. Supporting female sports owners is a great place to start. But more needs to be done to make sure that women have a say and equal opportunities in sports.
Football has always been a cornerstone of the American family. It brings people together, unites them around a common passion. It has provided some of my happiest memories. But to make sure this passion stays alive, we need to make sure that people from all backgrounds have a say in its development.
This means creating powerful role models for children growing up, letting them know that it doesn’t matter what gender you are. Women can do the same things as men. We need to recognize female excellence, to create a world where gender doesn’t dictate who gets to be an NFL owner.
My journey to answer the question “are there any female NFL owners?” revealed one important thing. Sure, there are a few female owners in the NFL, but there are still plenty of opportunities for more. There are many talented and qualified women out there, who have the potential to be the Joe Montanas and Roger Goodells of the NFL. We just need to give them a chance to prove it.