The NFL kicks off their 100th season in September. Noticeably absent from their history has been the presence of female players. With the brutality of the sport, will we ever see a woman play in the NFL? Carli Lloyd may be the first to answer that question.
After kicking a 55-yard field goal during a joint practice with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Baltimore Ravens, the soccer star has garnered interest from NFL teams to be their placekicker. One team went as far as to offer Lloyd a roster slot for an August 29th pre-season game. The timing conflicted with a USWNT soccer game against Portugal. Lloyd declined the offer to fulfill her national team obligations. This has not been the first we’ve heard about women making a run at the male-dominated sport.
Attempt At History
In 2013, Lauren Silberman hoped to etch her name into history. She was the first female player to participate in an NFL-sanctioned tryout. Silberman’s shot at glory felt short when she withdrew from the regional combine after two disastrous kickoffs.
The NFL Dream
Another female player made a statement of her own earlier this year. Toni Harris became the first non-kicker to receive a full college football scholarship when she signed her letter of intent to play at Central Methodist University. She also became the second woman to play football on scholarship (behind placekicker Becca Longo in 2017). The free safety hopes to play in the NFL for her favorite team, the Seattle Seahawks.
What’s Next?
Although Carli Lloyd declined her initial NFL offer, she is putting serious consideration into pursuing the sport in 2020. Giving herself time to train and perfect her technique, Lloyd appears to be in the right mindset for taking a shot at the NFL. So, will we ever see a woman play in the NFL? If Carli Lloyd and Toni Harris have any say, it’s only a matter of time.
