Washington’s Jennifer King becomes first Black woman to serve as a lead position coach in NFL game

Washington Football Team’s assistant running back coach Jennifer King has become the first Black woman to serve as a lead position coach in an National Football League (NFL) game, CNN reported. 

King stepped in for the Washington Football Team’s current lead running back coach, Randy Jordan, in Tuesday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles after he was placed on the team’s COVID-19/Reserve list on Monday along with six other coaches.

King was previously promoted from coaching intern to the team’s assistant running back coach in January, according to CNN.

A historic night for Jennifer King@JenniferKing5 | @WashingtonNFL

: #WASvsPHI on FOX pic.twitter.com/TVB3dZ6Z7q

— NFL Up (@NFLUpOfficial) December 22, 2021

In an interview, Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera expressed his admiration for King, saying the “sky is the limit” for her, CNN reported. 

“She is a hard worker, a great communicator and a quality person,” Rivera said in an interview earlier this year. 

“Coach King is always eager to learn and has shown tremendous growth since starting here last season … the sky truly is the limit for her,” Rivera added. 

King’s promotion to lead position coach for the game comes after Maia Chaka made history earlier this season by becoming the first black woman to officiate an NFL game.

Unfortunately for King, Washington ended up losing to the Eagles 27-17 in her first game in the lead role, per CNN. 

The contest was one of the three Week 15 NFL games that were postponed due to multiple team COVID-19 outbreaks.