Each year, the Super Bowl becomes the center of the NFL universe for two weeks. Last winter, the league's landmark 50th Super Bowl included a new event that proved to be one of its most impactful: The inaugural NFL Women's Summit. Now, Super Bowl LI has brought the second Summit to Houston, where all involved hope to build on last year's success by providing "Plays for Life" for women and teenage girls. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were represented at the second NFL Women's Summit by members of the Buccaneers and representatives of Women of RED, the Buccaneers female fan engagement program.
In 2015, the Bucs introduced the Women of RED in the Bay area, seeking to engage and make stronger connections with female fans of the team.
Glazer Family Foundation Co-President Darcie Glazer Kassewitz commented: "The NFL Women's Summit was one of the highlights of the Super Bowl LI experience. It was truly inspirational to attend a program designed to motivate, uplift and encourage women of all ages to reach new heights and achieve their goals. It was a weekend full of empowering messages that spoke to the women in attendance in a very direct and impactful manner. We look forward to incorporating some of the concepts that fit right in with what we have been doing here in Tampa Bay over the past three seasons with our Women of RED programming as we continue to expand and find new ways of improving the fan experience."
This year's summit was heavily attended not only by women with NFL connections but by activists, industry leaders and anyone seeking to encourage women and girls to achieve their goals, and provide the tools necessary to do so. Fox broadcaster Pam Oliver and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell kicked off the program on Friday morning with a welcome and opening remarks. Among the many, many featured speakers at the two-day event were former Miami Dolphins Executive Vice President Dawn Aponte, noted 13-year-old activist Hannah Alper, NFL Senior Vice President of Security Cathy Lanier, Carolina Panthers Head Coach Ron Rivera, "Hamilton" star Phillipa Soo and R&B/pop duo Chloe X Halle, in addition to a star-studded group of former NFL players, coaches and executives that included three Hall of Famers – Tony Dungy, Aeneas Williams and Will Shields – provided the know-how for an "NFL Strategy Lab."
The second annual NFL Women's Summit wrapped up on Saturday afternoon with a luncheon at which the key themes and lessons learned from the two days were reviewed by all participants. For teens and adults in attendance alike, the event was a magnificent opportunity to develop a playbook to succeed in life.
The NFL Women's Summit was held on Friday and Saturday, before Super Bowl LI kicks off in Houston.
Commissioner Roger Goodell at Women's Summit
Commissioner Roger Goodell at Women's Summit
Pam Oliver speaking at Women's Summit
"When passions meets purpose, you are unstoppable" – Shelley Zalis
Linda Tong, Gretta Granado, Lisa Gelobter, Tracy Caldwell Dyson & Jane Goodell at the Women's Summit
"In order to get to the good, you have to push through the bad." –Gabby Douglas
"We're never going to see social change if we're only preaching to half the sky" - Alexis Jones on her fight for women's empowerment as a community
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and daughter Ashley
"My journey was bigger than me; it's for everyone that's ever been told no or doubted themselves." - Ibtihaj Muhammad
Hall of Fame Head Coach Tony Dungy speaking at the Women's Summit
Hall of Fame Head Coach Tony Dungy speaking at the Women's Summit
