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Kathryn Smith Breaks NFL Coaching Barrier: Can The NCAA Be Far Behind?

First, congratulations to Kathryn Smith. The former executive assistant, who spent well over a decade in the NFL, has become the first woman to earn a full-time role as an NFL coach.

Smith served as the administrative assistant to head coach Rex Ryan this season after working for 12 years for the New York Jets, including the final six with Ryan as Jets head coach.

This was not a gimme for Smith, who had shown exceptional aptitude in her various roles for the Jets and Bills before being named Special Teams Quality Control Coach.