Bills make NFL history

Kathryn Smith stands next to Bills head coach Rex Ryan

Courtesy of WFSB

Kathryn Smith stands next to Bills head coach Rex Ryan

Michael Tucci, Sports Editor

 

The Buffalo Bills may have just captured what might be the most memorable offseason in recent history, and we are only three weeks into the year.

To start off this bizarre offseason, Rex Ryan, just one year in as the Bills head coach, hired his brother, Rob.

This could be seen as just another move to shine the spotlight of New York on him. Especially due to the fact that Rob Ryan was fired in November from his defensive coordinator job for the Saints, which ranked last in the NFL in points allowed per game with a whopping score of 29.8 points.

Obviously, Rob Ryan was given another chance due to the fact that the head coach of the Bills is his brother.

But now this: Rex Ryan has hired Kathyrn Smith, making NFL history as she is the first female coach in the league.

There most certainly are some question marks surrounding the Bills coaching staff, including:

How will Smith impact the play of the team? Even though she is not the head coach, or even a coordinator, she still has an important role in the fluidity of the team.

Smith has been given the official title of Special Teams Quality Control Coach. If football is not your life, then you may not know what this coach does, because it is not the most glamorous job in sports.

But don’t get me wrong, it is an important job. Her job incorporates breaking down opponents’ trends such as if they will punt on 4th and 2 or if they will kick a fake field goal from 55 yards.

Even though this is another monumental moment in the equality of women, there are still some naysayers about the legitimacy of the position.

Kevin Kiley, a radio talk show host in Cleveland, had this to say about Smith:

“She’s a woman, which makes her incapable of understanding the game of football,” he said on the air.

Not only is this quote outlandish, it also highlights the immaturity and the pure ignorance of this individual that Cleveland is exposed.

He then went on to say, “There is no place for women in professional sports.”

Luckily for Smith, she does not have to listen to the foolishness of the Kiley and Carmen Show, and she can continue on her road and hopefully achieve her dreams as an NFL head coach.

To the rest of the football loving world, Ryan hired Smith for a reason. He did not hire her out of pity, he hired her for her abilities as a coach.

Smith has been basically an intern for Ryan for seven years. Now she has her chance to shine. We can only hope that this move works out for the Bills and the future for Smith.