The Chicago Bears Hired First Female Coach in the History of the Team

Jennifer King. Photo/Instagram

The Chicago Bears recently announced its coaching staff for the 2024 season. The Bears made history by hiring their first female coach, Jennifer King. Jennifer has been a part of the NFL's coaching staff for four years as the assistant coach for the Washington Commanders—that position made her the first Black female coach in the NFL. 

King will assume the role of (offensive assistant running backs coach) for the Bears. Before interning for the Commanders, King was an offensive assistant at Dartmouth College after spending time as an intern running backs coach with the Panthers under Ron Rivera. In 2018, she also interned with the Panthers as a receivers coach, per NBC Sports. 

The 39-year-old played 12 seasons as a seven-time All-American quarterback and wide receiver for the Carolina Phoenix women's tackle football team from 2006-17. King has an extensive background in sports; according to Fox Sports, "After playing basketball and softball in college at Guilford, King became a women's college basketball coach, working as an assistant at Greensboro College for 10 years before becoming the head coach of Johnson & Wales in North Carolina in 2016. She led the program to the USCAA Division II national title in her second season, her final year as a women's college basketball coach." 

During King's interview with the NFL network, she explained her transition into coaching for the NFL: " I certainly risked it all to make that move into football and decided to bet on myself and went in with it." She added, "I think being strong enough to make that transition, I could fall on my face, but I am one of those people; I don't want to live with regret; I would rather take that opportunity and try it." 

Best of luck, Jennifer!

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