Dawn Aponte could soon make history as the first woman to lead an NFL front office. Dianna Russini of The Athletic writes that Aponte is drawing “real” interest from NFL teams that are seeking either new general managers or team presidents.
Aponte is no stranger to high-level roles. She currently serves as the NFL’s chief administrator of football operations, and she previously held high-ranking roles with the Jets, Dolphins, and Browns. Aponte started gaining momentum for GM gigs last offseason when she interviewed for the Chargers job, and she also met with the Commanders about a top front office role.
In a sport that’s historically been dominated by male leadership, Aponte’s inclusion in these job searches isn’t “about optics” nor an attempt “to demonstrate [the league’s] commitment to diversity and women in leadership,” per Russini. Rather, the executive has earned a reputation as a strong front office leader, with one source saying she’d be the perfect choice to “carry out ownership’s vision while creating streamlined processes, forcing accountability, and aligning the organization at all levels.”
Due to her lack of scouting and player personnel experience, Russini says Aponte would likely be paired with an executive who could focus solely on “the roster-building side of things.” This would better allow Aponte to handle “structure and alignment,” and her leadership and strategy skills would make her the natural leader among the new hires.
“She’s a tough, no-nonsense leader with a better resume and background in football than most of the men up for these jobs,” one coach told Russini. “This should be the year she gets a shot.”
Aponte’s name recently popped up in relation to the Jets’ front office opening. Former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum was recently brought on by his former team to help assist in the GM search. Tannenbaum and Aponte worked alongside each other in Miami, and there’s a sentiment that Tannenbaum’s desire “to do things differently” could lead to Aponte earning a role with the organization.
Best available will due!! Man or woman!
She’s always had great press about her work. Good luck to her.
Sigh……..
Given that she has a background in law, in finance, on the team side, and on the league side, she seems like a great fit to run a front office for an owner with the sense to know he doesn’t know how to run a football team. If only we had more owners like that.
Just hire the best person for the job. If Aponte is it, then hire her.
About damn time. I had a female coach for 8th grade football, coach K. She was awesome.
And I see she didn’t teach you anything because you’re sitting on the couch
You are a lonely, sexist hillbilly
If a player doesn’t go pro that means the coach taught you nothing?♂️
He’s one of those people who claims that if you don’t win the Superbowl, you’ve failed at life. The idea, clearly, is to bring 99.9999% of humanity down to his sluglike level.
You’ve had female owners. This is no big deal but the NFL has to do something before they get fined for diversity higher by Trump and I’m all for it. I wanna see Goodell personally get fined $50 million for diversity hires.
What on earth are you even trying to say Bob?
Where is Bullwinkle when you need a translator? 🙂
If Aponte becomes GM for the Giants or Jets can we expect another “Dawn of the Dead” movie?
Amy Trask ??
I think she will become a GM, I just hope it’s not the Jets. Whoever takes that job will probably get canned in two years. Hopefully their new hire is a recycled one.
Headline: “Woman draws interest for NFL front office jobs”
oBvIoUsLy a DiVeRsItY hIrE
Amy Trask already was a CEO
Trump supporters please just shut up.
We know you don’t think a women could actually just be qualified for the job. It must be a diversity hire.
Amazing how fast the “F uR fEeLiNgS” crowd clicks the flag button when their delicate little fe fe’s get grazed.
Expected and predictable, but still amazing. Like cheetahs or lightning.
They don’t know how to deal with their emotions so they project them onto everyone lmfao
My comment was banned for saying sexism is real, unlike Noah’s magic zoo boat
Someone’s little redneck Bible Thumping feeling got hurt
They can give it but can’t take it ♂️