Katie Sowers’ ascension to full-time coaching job with 49ers is more progress – Yahoo Sports

For the second time in NFL history, a woman will be on a teams coaching staff through the regular season.

Katie Sowers, who was coaching wide receivers during an internship with the San Francisco 49ers, was extended to a full-time role for this season by the team. She is the second full-time female assistant in NFL history. Kathryn Smith was a special teams quality control coach with the Buffalo Bills last season (she wasnt retained for this season after the Bills had an offseason coaching change).

49ers coach Kyle Shanahan explained that Sowers did such a good job during her internship, the team wanted to keep her after her internship was over. Simple as that.

She came in and worked with the receivers and did as good of a job as anyone Ive had in the internship, Shanahan said, according to CSN Bay Area. We loved having her around. She was eager to learn it, she has played professional football in a womens league in the United States for a while and shes passionate about it.

With Jen Welter, who was an assistant coaching intern with the Arizona Cardinals in 2015, Smith last year and Bowers this season, a common refrain was that players respect any coach who can help them get better.

Katie is a baller. One-hundredpercent, 49ers receiver Marquise Goodwin said on KNBR 680s Murph & Mac Show, according to CSN Bay Area. She understands the game. She is very familiar with the game. She played in a womens league.

It may be a little different, but she definitely has the attitude that it takes to be in that room. She brings a great vibe and she understands. Im happy that shes on staff.

Sowers shared the news on her Facebook page, with a positive message for anyone. She said believing in yourself is only part of chasing a dream, but also dreams are achieved by first finding someone who sees your worth and value, regardless of your gender, and takes the necessary steps to clear a path, even on the path less traveled. For Sowers, that someone was Scott Pioli, a longtime NFL executive who is now the assistant general manager of the Atlanta Falcons. Sowers had an internship with the Falcons last season. Atlantas offensive coordinator was Shanahan.

I wanted to share with my friends and family that I have accepted a season long coaching position with the San Francisco

Posted by Katie Sowers onSaturday, August 12, 2017

Sowers being hired is a positivestep for women in the NFL. Perhaps were not too far from a female coordinator, and then perhaps at some point a female head coach. That sounds like a big step, but a few years ago many probably wondered if wed see someone like Sowers or Smith reach the heights they have in the NFL coaching profession.

Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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Katie Sowers' ascension to full-time coaching job with 49ers is more progress - Yahoo Sports