I remember last year,
you know, I was, I had a locker room to myself and this year.
They're like eight different lockers with women's names.
So it's like what's going on. But this is,
you know, it's awesome for you know, just for diversity.
I love being Latina. I'm very proud.
So anything that I can do to help other Latina women, get
into football or interest the Latino Community into football.
I would love to be that person.
My name is Topher King, I'm a system running backs coach with
the Washington football team. I'm Natalia Durant, has
coordinator of football programs for the Washington
football team
fellow football at a super young age. Like 45 years old
started, watching football, my dad and going to high school
games on Friday nights and just fell in love with it. And I was
fortunate to start playing tackle football around 22 and
played for
many years as a quarterback. And
when I start getting into football more and more, I knew
I wanted to coach and Ultimately, you know, through
a lot of hard work and a few other stops. I ended up in NFL.
I wanted to work in football because I saw how it brings
communities all different types of backgrounds together and
I really appreciate it that especially coming from a Latino
household.
I'm very grateful to be the first Latina Chief of Staff in
the NFL, but my goal is to make sure that I'm not the last one.
Being the first black female full-time. NFL coach is super
special to me and it's very important to do a good job and
just to be a good role model and you know, a symbol of
representation. I think it's important to have diversity in
football as it's
important to have diversity everywhere, you know, there's
so many different points of views and backgrounds, and
people bring different ideas to the table that that are
important. And I think it was interesting to see so many
playoff teams last season had women involved on their staff
diversity. Brings in different perspectives, different.
Says,
and it impacts decisions that are made on a daily basis at
a high level.
I was invited into the women's careers in football forum. And
that's where I met coach Rivera.
It's great to work for someone like him that truly Believes In
Me.
Coach Rivera has been a champion for diversity, you
know, ever since I've known him. Obviously. I met him at
the Forum and him being at the farm. Already gave me a little
idea that he may be open to having a woman on his staff so
that it kind of helped me shoot my shot with him to
feel more comfortable just to start that conversation, but
when he brought me over, you know, Kind of took me under his
wing, you know, it's in the young assistant would and
he's been very helpful for me, anything questions. I have and
just watching how he works with his staff and how we, how he
works with the team. I think it's been big for my growth.
Also, as a coach
and as always, you know, a learning curve when you when
you work at this level. So important to do a good job at
every little thing you do because the details matter and
ultimately, you know, you win and lose off of the details
every day. I'm learning and growing
in In this role in this industry,
at in this position.
Yes, I don't have all the answers, but I know who I can
go to, and where I can go to find them and figure it out.
That's what it's about. You have to learn. You have to grow
embrace the journey, embrace the mistakes, they're gonna
happen, but coach knows, and he
accepts them and we just grow from each mistake.
I think the next step is just for us to continue to grow,
you know, right now,
you know, it's not a lot of us
obviously in the end.
Else. I think the next step is for it to become more and more
and know that comes with women gaining more and more knowledge
about football and wanted to coach football. Now that they
see that as possible.
I think it's so important for for little girls and just kids
in general to know that they can do so much more than
prosecute, a even think they can do.
They just can't put the work in and it really strive to be what
they want to be. You know, don't let anyone. Tell them no
doesn't matter who what you look like where you come from?
It is Possible. If you can see it you can be it. The biggest
piece of advice that I would say is to embrace your journey,
Embrace who you are be true to yourself.
I always fall back on my culture
coming from, you know,
to Mexican immigrants here in this country. Seeing everything
that my mom accomplishes with that language barrier, just
drives me
to work harder to do more. So, just want to make my parents
proud.