1 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 1: Hello everyone, and welcome to Playmakers. I'm your host Hayley Ellwood, 2 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:18,160 Speaker 1: and joining me on today's episode as we wrap up 3 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:21,720 Speaker 1: Women's History Month is Sam Rappaport. Sam is currently the 4 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:26,160 Speaker 1: NFL Senior Director of Diversity and Inclusion, helping lead programming 5 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 1: to retain, develop, and promote qualified, diverse candidates into the 6 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 1: football operations pipeline at NFL clubs and the league office. 7 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:36,919 Speaker 1: She created the Women's Careers in Football Forum, which just 8 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 1: had its fourth meeting at the Combine last month. Sam 9 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:43,240 Speaker 1: has been a recipient of the NFL's Commissioner's Award, named 10 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 1: one of Fortune's forty Under forty, and was also one 11 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:49,480 Speaker 1: of People magazine's twenty five Women Changing the World. Sam 12 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:51,840 Speaker 1: is doing amazing work and we are so stoked she's 13 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 1: with us today. So I really hope you enjoyed this conversation. 14 00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:59,080 Speaker 1: All right, let's say hello to Sam Rappaport. Sam, how 15 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:01,920 Speaker 1: are you doing. I'm doing well. Thanks, How are you, Harley? 16 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 1: I am good. Thank you so much for coming on 17 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:07,440 Speaker 1: my pleasure. So let's take it back a few years. 18 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 1: You grew up in Canada, but I know you had 19 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 1: an inherent love for the NFL that came from your dad. 20 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 1: You started playing flag football, touch football, then got into tackle. 21 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 1: Did you ever think that you would end up working 22 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:22,040 Speaker 1: for the league. You know, I always knew that it 23 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 1: was what I wanted. It just felt like such a 24 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:27,319 Speaker 1: pipe dream growing up in Canada with absolutely no connections 25 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: to the NFL. No. I remember when I was young, 26 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 1: I watched Jerry McGuire and I watched Jared McGuire's you know, 27 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 1: former wife's handout pamphlets with the NFL field on it, 28 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 1: and I remember looking at that saying like, Wow, that's 29 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 1: an actual job, Like I could do something with the 30 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 1: NFL shield on it, and you know that that should 31 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 1: do what my career would be about. And you know, 32 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:49,680 Speaker 1: I was fortunate enough at the time to make it happen. 33 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 1: And you know, I still pinched myself sometimes though. So 34 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 1: you would originally applied for an internship with the NFL. 35 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 1: Some may know the story on how you got that, 36 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 1: but for those who don't, how did you apply? Because 37 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 1: I know there's a pretty good story there. Yeah. I 38 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 1: know I applied with a gimmick, but I really needed 39 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:11,359 Speaker 1: to find some way to stand out from other candidates 40 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:13,520 Speaker 1: who had connections, So you know, I was a quarterback 41 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 1: growing up, and with my resume, I spent a Wilson 42 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 1: football and on the football and sharp I wrote whatever 43 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 1: quarterbacks could accurately deliver a ball three hundred and eighty 44 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 1: six miles, which was a distance between Montreal, where I 45 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:31,240 Speaker 1: went to school, and New York City. And so you know, 46 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 1: I guess it made someone laugh and it stood out, 47 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 1: you know, and I was able to get that first opportunity. 48 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:38,800 Speaker 1: And you know, what I'm working towards now is for 49 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 1: you know, women and everyone released and not have to, 50 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:45,400 Speaker 1: you know, to create a gimmicky application for what they're 51 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:47,120 Speaker 1: trying to do and just you know, find ways to 52 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 1: open doors equally for everyone. So by playing, you work 53 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 1: for the NFL. You went to USA football, you're obviously 54 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 1: back at the NFL. Did you ever think about coaching 55 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: it all? Or was it always sort of getting in 56 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 1: on the executive side. Yeah, I girls Flags football and 57 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 1: I still do a little in Brooklyn now, But you know, 58 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 1: it was like so many girls growing up, it was 59 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 1: nothing I even considered because I didn't think it was 60 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 1: possible for me. And so you know, I'm mucky that, 61 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 1: you know, I was brought up and had the fortitude 62 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:17,640 Speaker 1: to think I could work at the NFL, because a 63 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 1: lot of you know, girls when I was growing up 64 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 1: would have thought that was impossible. But the truth is 65 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 1: that I never considered it, And you know, there's a 66 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:27,079 Speaker 1: little regret there now. And I'm speaking to a lot 67 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 1: of my friends and you know who are who are 68 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 1: now coaches in the NFL, and you know it could 69 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 1: have potentially been a pathway. But you know, I feel 70 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 1: like I'm in a pretty important role as it pertains 71 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: to helping you know, those women get there. So there's 72 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 1: certainly some gratification there. Yeah, in terms of that your 73 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 1: current role as a senior director of Diversity Inclusion, it's 74 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 1: so special because you've talked in the past about how 75 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 1: your goal is ultimately to bridge the gap between women 76 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 1: who love football, play it, consume it, and pairing them 77 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:56,920 Speaker 1: with jobs. So when you talk about that specialness, just 78 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 1: how rewarding has this position been for you? Yeah, I 79 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 1: feel so lucky that I have put in this position. 80 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 1: You know, it's certainly so many people Commissioner Goodell and 81 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 1: Troy Vinson and JOHNA. Ponte and so many people kind 82 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 1: of you know, we're responsible for giving me the keys 83 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:14,120 Speaker 1: to this car and trusting me to create something that 84 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 1: would be beneficial to the league and help, you know, 85 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 1: progress us to where we all want to be. And 86 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:21,280 Speaker 1: so I don't take that for granted. I don't take 87 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 1: it lightly. I think about it quite often. And it 88 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:27,600 Speaker 1: was interesting because during the NFL Women's Crews in Football 89 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 1: Forum this year, one of one of the coaches, Um 90 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 1: Morale Javadifar, who is a coach for the Camp Bay Buccaneers, 91 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:36,159 Speaker 1: kind of turned to me and gave me a coaching 92 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:38,240 Speaker 1: point and said, make sure you close your eyes for 93 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 1: three seconds and taken what's going on in this room. 94 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 1: And I thought that was so so you know, insightful 95 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:46,040 Speaker 1: and to kind of point that out. And I did. 96 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 1: I sat there and I looked around the room and 97 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 1: I thought, Wow, like we have created something that you know, 98 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 1: has got this train moving and it's not going to 99 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:57,840 Speaker 1: slow down. So that forum, the Women's Careers in Football Forum, 100 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:01,039 Speaker 1: just had its fourth meeting at Combine just a few 101 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: weeks ago. That's been your brainchild. And Jane Goodell told 102 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 1: me you essentially pitched it to the commissioner. Is that right? Yeah? 103 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 1: I mean I was. I was actually playing flag football 104 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:16,000 Speaker 1: with Commissioner Goodell in Bronxville, I think it five years 105 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:19,479 Speaker 1: five years ago, and you know, he volunteers this time 106 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:21,040 Speaker 1: along with Jane and others to kind of give it 107 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 1: back to the community in Bronxville, which is a great event. 108 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:25,680 Speaker 1: And so I was just playing around with him and I, 109 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:28,280 Speaker 1: you know, I really I wanted to gauge his interest 110 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:30,280 Speaker 1: level in this, and you know I have to day 111 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:32,280 Speaker 1: not only this, but in things that I've pitched to 112 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:34,280 Speaker 1: him in the past. He is such a supporter of 113 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:37,359 Speaker 1: our the box ideas that could serve to help progress 114 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 1: the league. I don't think many people know that before 115 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 1: the words diversity inclusion were even you know a thing 116 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 1: in corporate America, Commissioner Goodell used to work in in 117 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:49,920 Speaker 1: diversity and inclusion way back in the eighties trying to help, 118 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:54,279 Speaker 1: you know, build a talent pipeline for men of color 119 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:56,840 Speaker 1: in you know, a long time ago, again before it 120 00:05:56,880 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: was popular. So yeah, he supported the idea, put me 121 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 1: in contact with Troy Vincent and several others, Mike Smith 122 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:04,920 Speaker 1: at the NFL as well, and you know, we all 123 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:07,279 Speaker 1: got together and discussed how do we build a bridge 124 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 1: between this large group of people in this country and 125 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:12,800 Speaker 1: in the world quite frankly, who want to work in 126 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 1: football and are just not in the right circles to 127 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 1: gain those opportunities. And then you know, the idea was birthed. 128 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:21,440 Speaker 1: So give me the rundown on that forum. What do 129 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 1: you accomplish over those few days and where did the 130 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 1: women that you bring in come from? So we started 131 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 1: the country each year for the women in the participants 132 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:37,120 Speaker 1: are women who are in entry level football jobs, mostly 133 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:40,040 Speaker 1: in college football, so kind of that one to three 134 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 1: years experience. For the most parts, they're certainly were some 135 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:45,240 Speaker 1: other women there who have a desire to work in 136 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:48,600 Speaker 1: the NFL that haven't yet you know, made the connections. 137 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 1: So it's a program that's very intentional. And what we're 138 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:55,359 Speaker 1: trying to do is take a group of highly talented 139 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 1: women and put them in a room with our owners, 140 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:02,520 Speaker 1: our general managers are coaches, and just gives them organic 141 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:05,960 Speaker 1: opportunities to interact with those folks and create connections to 142 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:09,359 Speaker 1: help to here opportunities. We would never say to a club, 143 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: you know, please hire women, or you need to hire women. 144 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 1: That's not what this is about at all. This is 145 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 1: about please give an opportunity to interview, to a group 146 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 1: of people who were previously disenfranchised, and what we've seen 147 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 1: as a result is eighty nine women through in a 148 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 1: three year period because obviously we haven't gone to the 149 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 1: hiring period yet. This year has been hired through the program. 150 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:32,680 Speaker 1: So that model of just gets them in the room 151 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: with them, you know, and allow them to interact one 152 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 1: on one or three on one or what have you. 153 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 1: It worked and it's something that's a small amount of progress. 154 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 1: It was certainly proud of. Yeah, having those conversations and 155 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 1: those women they get face time with those men. I 156 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 1: know Jojo Wooden, who's the Chargers director of player personnel, 157 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 1: he participated last year. How though, can men be allies 158 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 1: for women pursuing careers in football? Yes, I'm in the 159 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 1: building for an interview. It's that simple, get them in 160 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 1: the building. Because you know, what if is if he 161 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 1: is not as good as the other candidates, then don't 162 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 1: get her the job. And you know, it's interesting some 163 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: clubs who have done that, but the you know, the 164 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 1: persons from the woman from our program did not get 165 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 1: the job. It's almost sometimes a better outcome, right, because 166 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 1: we're no if every woman who interviews get a job, 167 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 1: something is wrong right, and and then you know that 168 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 1: tokenism is taking place. And so you know, some of 169 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:28,320 Speaker 1: the clubs that have participated have interviewed several of our 170 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:30,440 Speaker 1: participants and they didn't get the jobs, and that both 171 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 1: the general managers or head coaches, and you know, it 172 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:36,440 Speaker 1: made perfect sense. And so I think that's all. That's 173 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 1: what men can do. Set them in the room for 174 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:41,080 Speaker 1: an interview, and if you don't know where to find them, 175 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 1: use the league office. That's what we're trying to do. 176 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 1: We are not creating any of this change. All of 177 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:48,280 Speaker 1: this change is coming from the general managers, head coaches 178 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:51,000 Speaker 1: and the owners of the team. We are just we 179 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:54,440 Speaker 1: are just effectuating the program to provide you know, um 180 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:58,480 Speaker 1: vetted candidates in case they don't know of any. So 181 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:01,840 Speaker 1: the league currently has I believe, five full time female coaches, 182 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 1: eight female athletic trainers. Were very proud because one of those, 183 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 1: Alison Miner, is on staff with us here at the Chargers. 184 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:11,760 Speaker 1: But what is it like to see those women achieve 185 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:14,680 Speaker 1: their goals? Yeah, it's incredible. I think you know, a 186 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 1: lot of the rewarding is coming from the representation that 187 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 1: you know that they're serving in the country. So you know, 188 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: I get a lot of emails and letters from young 189 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 1: girls who are inspired by women that they see on television. 190 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 1: Allison is a great example, you know, when I'm watching 191 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 1: Charger of Games, I have seen her several times and 192 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 1: I've gotten I've gotten emails and letters from girls about that. 193 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:38,240 Speaker 1: Just seeing women on the sidelines wanting to a player 194 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:41,120 Speaker 1: when he gets injured. And that part of it is 195 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:44,720 Speaker 1: so incredibly rewarding because not only are we inspiring young girls, 196 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:48,240 Speaker 1: we're also serving to create the next generation, the next 197 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 1: pipeline of candidates. Because something we're seeing which is interesting 198 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 1: and it's a very good problem to have, is that 199 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:59,040 Speaker 1: the demand for you know, female candidates now is almost 200 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:04,240 Speaker 1: outweighing high in some areas. So you know, an example is, 201 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:08,600 Speaker 1: you know, in video in equipment, there are so few women, um, 202 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:11,560 Speaker 1: you know working in those roles in the world. And 203 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:13,840 Speaker 1: so when you have you know, a progressive equipment manager 204 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:16,160 Speaker 1: coming and saying, hey, I'd love you know, to interview 205 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 1: you know, wideleave in candidates. To have any female candidates 206 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 1: for this, um, you know, some of the some of 207 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 1: them are just not there yet. So that is kind 208 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 1: of the biggest benefit to me. And seeing all of 209 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:28,800 Speaker 1: them is I don't think they They might not truly 210 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:31,360 Speaker 1: understand how big of a church they're paying for the 211 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:33,920 Speaker 1: next generation of girls that are looking at saying now 212 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:36,480 Speaker 1: I can do it. So all months long we've talked 213 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:39,319 Speaker 1: with guests about female viewership for NFL games and it 214 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 1: being up five percent from twenty eighteen to twenty nineteen. 215 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 1: Why do you think it's reached that high and has 216 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 1: gone up? I mean, I think part of it is 217 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 1: certainly that women are feeling more, more enfranchise, more a 218 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 1: part of what we are doing. And I think it's 219 00:10:56,360 --> 00:10:59,800 Speaker 1: not only that they're seeing female coaches, you know, and 220 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:02,679 Speaker 1: are seeing female trainers and they're seeing that side of it, 221 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:06,600 Speaker 1: but that certainly serves to deliver a message to women 222 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 1: that we're not just talking about women being involved in 223 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:11,680 Speaker 1: football and loving football. By showing images of fans in 224 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:15,600 Speaker 1: the stands, they're now contributing to, you know, clubs winning 225 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 1: and losing. And I think that that there's a there's 226 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:20,720 Speaker 1: a there's a realness, and there's a you know, a 227 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:23,679 Speaker 1: genuine side to that message that's being delivered that I 228 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:27,480 Speaker 1: hope is serving to you know, demonstrably show when that 229 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 1: they belong. But I think there's also a lot of 230 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:32,680 Speaker 1: things that are going on around around the NFL that 231 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 1: contribute that to that as well. You know, girls are 232 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:38,439 Speaker 1: more involved in in tackle football than ever and you 233 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 1: could look for our youth football group for that. UM 234 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 1: and clubs are doing a great job if you look 235 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:45,880 Speaker 1: at you know, other clubs, you know, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 236 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:48,600 Speaker 1: as an example, where they kind of put um, you know, 237 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 1: a great deal of time and effort behind ensuring that 238 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:52,680 Speaker 1: females are engaged on that level. And I think that 239 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:55,720 Speaker 1: per mes beyond the individual club and I think, uh, 240 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:58,600 Speaker 1: you know, that really does serve to make females feel 241 00:11:58,679 --> 00:12:02,000 Speaker 1: like they belong at the NFL. And that's you know, 242 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:03,840 Speaker 1: and I saw that STI for the first time. It 243 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:06,160 Speaker 1: was it was, it was exciting, and I got certainly 244 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:10,360 Speaker 1: energized that hopefully part of hopefully what we're doing is 245 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:14,199 Speaker 1: serving to um, you know, help elevate that number absolutely. 246 00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:17,400 Speaker 1: And then lastly, Sam, looking at everything big picture, what 247 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:20,440 Speaker 1: is your ultimate goal for women working in the NFL. 248 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:25,720 Speaker 1: My ultimate goal is that this program is no longer needed, yeah, um, 249 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:28,320 Speaker 1: you know, and and also like to normalize women in 250 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:30,200 Speaker 1: football is you know, is what we've said from the 251 00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:33,640 Speaker 1: start is what we are trying to achieve. So, um, 252 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:35,840 Speaker 1: you know, I hope that Haley, you and I talk 253 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:38,480 Speaker 1: every year about this, but at some point it won't 254 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 1: be necessary because it's just not going to be a 255 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:44,280 Speaker 1: big deal and and you know, women will be kind of, 256 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:46,600 Speaker 1: you know, ubiquitous, and it will be as you know, 257 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:50,320 Speaker 1: it will reflect the population um of of our fans, 258 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:52,880 Speaker 1: and that really, that really is the end goal. Um, 259 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 1: we're always away from that. I don't know when we'll 260 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:58,400 Speaker 1: see that. But you know, something interesting that to observe 261 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 1: is it's kind of happened with Thomas our on field 262 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:04,320 Speaker 1: official and I've been studying that pretty closely because you know, 263 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 1: for her first couple of seasons, that's all anyone wanted 264 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:08,719 Speaker 1: to talk about. Right the camera went right to her. 265 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 1: They talked about, you know that she's a female down 266 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:13,560 Speaker 1: judge and all the things associated with that, and last 267 00:13:13,559 --> 00:13:16,720 Speaker 1: season you barely heard anything about it. Right, She's just there, 268 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:19,080 Speaker 1: She's just there. She keeps the down judge. She's not 269 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:21,079 Speaker 1: a female down judge. So that really is what we're 270 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 1: trying to achieve, is when we stop talking about female 271 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 1: coaches and female scouts and female presidents and it just 272 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:29,160 Speaker 1: becomes normal that that is the mexic of success and 273 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 1: we're not going to pat ourselves on the back until 274 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 1: we get there. Well, Sam, thank you so much. You 275 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 1: and I will keep having this conversation as long as 276 00:13:35,640 --> 00:13:37,920 Speaker 1: we have to to get to that point. Absolutely, but 277 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:41,400 Speaker 1: thank you so much for coming on. We really appreciate it. Absolutely, 278 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:46,480 Speaker 1: thank for highlighting and say we really appreciate it. And 279 00:13:46,679 --> 00:13:49,960 Speaker 1: that's a wrap on our very special month of Playmakers episode. 280 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:52,440 Speaker 1: So thank you to Sam Rappaport for joining me today 281 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:54,880 Speaker 1: and also a big big thank you to Jane Skinner 282 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:58,800 Speaker 1: Goodell and Leslie Visser for our previous conversations. Keep a 283 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:01,640 Speaker 1: tune of the Chargers Podcast Network all off season long 284 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 1: is we will have more episodes of Playmakers, more episodes 285 00:14:04,640 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 1: of Chargers Weekly, and we will get you caught up 286 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:10,040 Speaker 1: on everything and anything going on with the Bolts this offseason.