>>> WHEN SUPER BOWL L VIV KICKS
OFF, THE FOCUS WILL BE ON TOM
BRADY AND PATRICK MAHOLMES, A
PAIR OF STAR QUARTERBACKS A
GENERATION APART.
A PAIR OF COACHES AND A REFEREE
WILL GET THEIR STAR TURNS AS
WELL, MAKING HISTORY IN THE
PROCESS.
>> Reporter: HISTORY WILL BE
MADE.
IT WON'T JUST BE THESE GUYS WHO
MAKE IT.
FOR THE FIRST TIME, TWO FEMALE
COACHES WILL BE ON THE
SIDELINES.
ON THE FIELD, SARA THOMAS, THE
FIRST WOMAN TO REF A SUPER BOWL.
WE CAUGHT UP WITH HER IN 2013 AS
SHE GOT SET TO REF HER FIRST NFL
GAME, RECALLING A CHILDHOOD
CONVERSATION WITH HER BROTHER.
>> I SAID, CAN GIRLS DO THAT?
HE SAID, I GUESS SO.
>> Reporter: PLAYERS ARE MORE
FOCUSED ON HER CALLS THAN
GENDER.
>> I DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY TREAT
ME DIFFERENTLY.
THE PLAYERS TRULY JUST WANT YOU
TO DO A JOB.
>> Reporter: THESE NBA REFS WERE
THE FIRST FEMALE DUO TO REF A
GAME LOVE THE MESSAGE.
>> FOR THE NBA TO PUT TWO WOMEN
ON A GAME THE FIRST TIME, IT WAS
A BIG DEAL.
SEEING IS BELIEVING.
FOR THEM TO PUT SARA THOMAS OUT
THERE ON ONE OF THE BIGGEST
PLATFORMS IN THE SPORTS WORLD
AND SHE HAS A PONYTAIL AND YOU
CAN TELL SHE'S A WOMAN FROM A
MILE AWAY.
>> Reporter: THE NBA HAS BEEN
JUST AS SUPPORTIVE.
>> I HAD A COACH LOOK ME IN THE
EYE AND SAY, WE COMMEND YOU,
LADIES, FOR BEING OUT HERE.
>> Reporter: THE FIRST MAJOR
LEAGUE BASEBALL COACH FEELS
RESPONSIBLE FOR WOMEN WHO COME
AFTER HER.
>> SOMETIMES I DO FEEL THE
PRESSURE OF, IF I MESS UP, WHAT
IF THIS HURTS THE CHANCES OF
ANOTHER FEMALE GETTING A ROLE
LIKE THIS?
>> Reporter: DO YOU FEEL
PRESSURE TO BE ONE OF THE GUYS?
>> I FELT THAT I COULD BE MYSELF
EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALL
KIND OF TALK ABOUT.
EVEN THE GUYS, TOO.
WE DON'T WANT TO JUST CALL YOU
THE FEMALE COACH.
WE ARE CALLING YOU A COACH.
THANK YOU.
>> Reporter: WOMEN HAVE BEEN
KNOCKING ON THE DOOR OF MEN'S
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS FOR YEARS.
NOW THAT DOOR IS OPENING.
THE NFL HAD EIGHT FEMALE COACHES
THIS YEAR.
ONE PLAYOFF WEEKEND, SIX WERE ON
THE FIELD.
>> THAT WAS REALLY POWERFUL FOR
ME TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT MUCH
REPRESENTATION IN SUCH A
COMPETITIVE ASPECT OF THE
SEASON.
>> Reporter: THE COACH FOR THE
BROWNS AND A RUNNING BACK COACH
FOR THE WASHINGTON FOOTBALL
TEAM.
WHICH CAME FIRST, THE LEAGUE'S
CONFIDENCE OR YOUR CONFIDENCE?
>> THE LEAGUE.
NOTHING WAS REALLY HAPPENING FOR
WOMEN IN THE NFL LIKE THIS.
>> Reporter: LORI HOPES THE
FIRST WAVE OF WOMEN IN THE
LEAGUE WILL INSPIRE THE NEXT
ONE.
>> IT HAS BEEN NICE TO BE ON THE
FOREFRONT OF THE BUILDING OF THE
FRAMEWORK FOR THE REST OF THE
WOMEN COACHES THAT ARE GOING TO
COME IN.
>> Reporter: DO YOU SAY, HEY,
MAYBE THERE'S A CHANCE I CAN BE
A HEAD COACH AT SOME POINT?
>> YOU WORK HARD.
YOU ADD VALUE.
YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
I KNOW WHOEVER THAT PERSON IS IS
GOING TO BE PHENOMENAL.
I'M EXCITED.
WHOEVER IT IS HAS MY FULL
SUPPORT.
HOPEFULLY GIVE ME A JOB ON THEIR
STAFF.
>> GOOD MORNING.
IT HAS BEEN GREAT TO SEE ALL
THESE WOMEN BREAK INTO SUCH HIGH
PROFILE POSITIONS ACROSS
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS OVER THE
LAST FEW YEARS AS YOU LAID OUT
IN THE PIECE.
WHY IS IT FINALLY HAPPENING NOW?
>> I THINK THERE'S AN
APPRECIATION THAT THERE'S NO ONE
SUCCESSFUL COACHING STYLE.
HAVING DIFFERENT KINDS OF
COACHES FOR AN ORGANIZATION CAN
ACTUALLY BE BENEFICIAL.
YOU HEARD THE COACHES SAY THEY
NEED TO BE AUTHENTIC.
THEY NEED TO BE GOOD.
IN THE END, THESE ARE
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES.
THEY WANT TO GET BETTER.
THEY WANT TO WIN.
IF THE COACHES CAN GET THEM
THERE, THEN THAT WILL BE
SUCCESS.
LORI WAS ASKED A VERY SIMILAR
QUESTION.
SHE SAID, THE PROOF IS IN THE
PUDDING.
WE WILL BE ON THE FIELD ON
SUNDAY.
>> THEY WILL BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT
TODAY.
I KNOW YOU ARE A PATRIOTS FAN.
YOU MAY HAVE MIX FEELINGS ABOUT
WATCHING TOM BRADY PLAY FOR
ANOTHER TEAM.
WHO DO YOU HAVE TODAY?
>> YOU KNOW WHAT?
NO MIXED FEELINGS.
I'M ROOTING FOR THE BUCS.
IF I HAD TO PUT $5 DOWN, IT'S
HARD TO BET AGAINST PATRICK