Throughout Women's History Month, we’re highlighting sports pioneers, and few stories are as impactful as  Jennifer King’s. Known for shattering one of the most significant glass ceilings in professional sports, King made history in 2021 when the Washington Commanders promoted her to assistant running backs coach, making her the first Black woman to serve as a full-time coach in the NFL.

King’s journey to the sidelines didn't happen overnight. She built her foundation as a player in the Women’s Football Alliance, a tackle football league that allowed her to master the nuances of the game from the grass up. Her transition into the coaching world gained momentum in 2018 after she attended the NFL Women’s Forum, a critical pipeline that connects female candidates with league executives and head coaches.

That same year, she landed an internship with the Carolina Panthers under then-head coach Ron Rivera. Working with wide receivers and later running backs, King proved her value quickly. When Rivera moved to Washington, King followed as an intern in 2020 before earning her historic full-time promotion a year later. Most recently, she spent the 2023 season as an assistant running backs coach for the Chicago Bears.

While her NFL resume is legendary, King’s latest chapter brings her back to her roots. After the coaching staff in Chicago was not retained this offseason, King felt a pull to return home to North Carolina, joining the staff at North Carolina Central University.  Now, she’s currently the only Black female analyst at a Division I historically Black college.