NFL Women’s Forum Presented by AWS Returns at the 2026 NFL Combine to Connect Women with Professional Opportunities in Football

Since the Forum began in 2017, 450 participants have gone through the program with over 250 opportunities created for women in all levels of football — including fellowships, internships, full-season roles, training camp opportunities, promotions and more. Currently, women are represented in all 32 teams’ scouting departments and the NFL has more women in coaching roles than any male professional league in the world. During the 2025-2026 season, the NFL had 39 women in scouting and scouting related positions and 23 women on coaching staffs across clubs – both figures are a record for the league.

Over the Women’s Forum ten-year history, its past participants have gone on to become the first female positional coach in college football history (Heather Marini), the NFL’s first black female scout (Salli Clavelle) and coach (Jennifer King), a Super Bowl winning coach (Autumn Lockwood) and one of the league’s first Latina coaches, (Isabel Diaz). Additionally, over the past 5 years, there has been a 289% increase of women in football operation and coaching roles, while a total of 358 women are in football operations and coaching roles this season.

“As the NFL advances the game of football on and off the field, the Women’s Forum is a key component of how the league opens doors and expands pathways to opportunity,” said Jonathan Beane, NFL senior vice president of league leadership and inclusion. “Each year, the Forum propels more women into roles across all levels of football, and we are proud to support its growing impact.”

As the presenting sponsor of the NFL Women’s Forum, AWS will host a roundtable with NFL leaders to provide participants an introduction to data-driven decision making and its applications across various areas of football including scouting, player personnel, football administration, coaching, equipment, football operations and player health and safety. Since 2017, the NFL has leveraged AWS’s artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) services to innovate together to shape the future of football. By collaborating on the Women’s Forum, the NFL and AWS aim to empower participants with the knowledge necessary to leverage data and analytics to optimize their impact on the game.

For the third year in a row, the NFL will honor the life and legacy of Buddy Teevens, former Dartmouth College head football coach and advocate for the inclusion of women in football, with the presentation of the Buddy Teevens Forward Progress Award Presentation. Alongside Women Leaders in Sports, the NFL has developed a specialized curriculum for this year’s Women’s Forum participants.

The Forum will take place during the NFL Combine and feature candid conversations, panel discussions and roundtable networking with NFL executives, coaches, media personalities and representatives from across all 32 clubs. For the first time, the Forum will include a fireside chat with Indianapolis Colts owners and sisters Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson, all representing a new generation of women in leadership. The chat will be moderated by sports media personality and Indianapolis Colts legend, Pat McAfee. Additionally, the second panel discussion will take participants through the progress of women in football since the inception of the Women’s Forum ten years ago. This conversation will be led by NFL Network’s Kimmi Chex and speakers will represent six different teams and three generations of women in football.

Full schedule and speakers are outlined below. To learn more about this year’s participants and programming, visit the link here.

2026 Women’s Forum Agenda

Tuesday, February 24 – Indianapolis, IN
(Times outlined are in Eastern Standard Time)

10:00-10:15 a.m.  Opening Remarks: Welcome to the 2026 Women’s Forum presented by AWS                              

10:20-11:00 a.m.  Setting the Tone from the Top: A Fireside Chat

    Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Colts Owner & CEO

    Casey Foyt, Colts Owner & Executive Vice President

    Kalen Jackson, Colts Owner & Chief Brand Officer

        Moderated by Pat McAfee, Host of the Pat McAfee Show      

11:05 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.  A Decade of Progress: How Three Generations of Women in Football Was Born

    Isabel Diaz, Indianapolis Colts

    Jennifer King, North Carolina Central University

    Chesney McClellan, Las Vegas Raiders

    Joy Tapajcik, Cleveland Browns

    Ashton Washington, Chicago Bears

    Milli Wilson, Buffalo Bills

        Moderated by Kimmi Chex, NFL Network Talent

11:40 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  Buddy Teevens Forward Progress Award Presentation

*Speaker attendance is subject to change

For media RSVPs to the NFL Women’s Forum, please contact A’Maiya Allen AMaiya.Allen@nfl.com