From stay-at-home moms to stockbrokers, 43 percent of the NFL's fan base is women. Whether they're grand moms, working moms or women just working hard, 54 million women find time to fit in NFL football each year.
Online, more than 25 percent of an estimated 15 million fantasy players are women, according to a study conducted by the Ipsos marketing research company. That totals 3.75 million women.
More than one million girls annually participate in NFL Pepsi Punt, Pass & Kick.
And more women watch the Super Bowl than the Academy Awards. This year, 44 percent more women watched Super Bowl XXXVIII (39.2 million) than watched the Academy Awards (27.1 million).
Each season, more than 10,000 women attend NFL 101 Workshops for Women. NFL 101 covers life in the NFL, the history of football, strategy, equipment, officiating and other football subjects.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, for example, held their third annual Motorola Women's Training Camp in 2003.
"I had such a good time," said Ann Karaica of Gibsonia, Pennsylvania. "The whole thing is so organized. It amazes me. I like the idea of learning what the players do. I've learned to appreciate them more as players. When they make mistakes I don't criticize them like I used to because I now understand how difficult it really is."
More than 20 teams offer NFL 101 Workshops for Women.
Behind the scenes, more and more women are making advances on the administrative side at the league and club levels of the NFL.
"One of our key priorities is to have a league that represents, supports and celebrates diversity," Commissioner Tagliabue says. "Women have a significant and growing role in our league. They are an increasing part of our fan base, and there are more women contributing to the league and our clubs in executive and staff positions today than ever before."
Female executives at the league and the 32 teams help the game's popularity stay strong:
Theresa Abato (Dir. of Premium Services) Baltimore Ravens
Charlotte Anderson (VP/Dir. Charities/Spec. Events) Dallas Cowboys
Dawn Aponte (Salary Cap Analyst) New York Jets
Jennifer Ark (Dir. of Premium Guest Services) Green Bay Packers
Mary Pat Augenthaler (Sr. Dir. of Special Events) NFL
Anita Bailey (Dir. of Corporate Sponsorship)Kansas City Chiefs
Susan Bass (VP of Communications/Community Relations) Atlanta Falcons
Nancy Behar (Dir. of Broadcast Administration) NFL
Jamia Bigalow (Dir. of Affiliate Marketing) NFL
Katie Blackburn (Executive VP) Cincinnati Bengals
Tracey Bleczinski (Dir. of Retail Development) NFL
Katie Boes (Sr. Dir. of International Media) NFL
Linda Bogdan (Corporate VP) Buffalo Bills
Jeanne Bonk (VP & Chief Financial/Administrative Officer) San Diego Chargers
Danielle Boyce (Dir. of Regional Sales/Marketing) New Orleans Saints
Adrian Bracy (VP of Finance) St. Louis Rams
Edwina Britton (Dir. of Finance) Jacksonville Jaguars
Lynn Carrozzi (Ticket Manager) San Francisco 49ers
Rena Clark (VP of Community Affairs & Corporate Philanthropy) New England Patriots
Beth Colleton (Dir. of Community Affairs) NFL
Carol Constantine (Dir. of Labor Administration & Information) NFL
Annette Coyne (Dir. of Special Events) Kansas City Chiefs
Valerie Cross (Dir. of Player Benefits) NFL
Pat Curley (VP of Information Technology) New England Patriots
Robin Dally (Dir. of Sponsorship Sales) NFL
Anastasia Danias (Associate Counsel) NFL
Shawn Dennis (VP of Marketing Services) NFL
Lisa Dixon (Dir. of Consumer Marketing) Baltimore Ravens
Diane Downing (Dir. of Stadium Operations) Cleveland Browns
Jesse Ewing (VP of Strategic Development) NFL
Judy Fearing (VP of Marketing) NFL Network
Jen Ferron (Exec. Dir. of Marketing Operations) New England Patriots
Georgia Frontiere (Owner) St. Louis Rams
Cindy Galloway (Sr. Dir. of Community Development) Denver Broncos
Beth Gay (Dir. of Player Development) Detroit Lions
Nancy Gill (Sr. VP of Human Resources) NFL
Paula Guibault (Sr. Intellectual Property Counsel) NFL
Leslie Hammond (Dir. of Media Services) NFL
Cindy Hart (Dir. of Suite Sales & Services and Special Events) New Orleans Saints
Renee Harvey (Dir., Community Relations & Assist. Dir., Cleveland Browns Foundation) Cleveland Browns
Kate Hogan (Dir. of Retail Operations) Green Bay Packers
Karen Hudson (Dir. of Marketing) NFL
Maryruth Hughey (Dir. of Ticket Operations) New England Patriots
Jennifer Johnston (Dir. of Creative Services) Jacksonville Jaguars
Joann Kamay-Sahm (Dir. of Network Services DGA) NFL
Erica Klair (Dir. of Marketing) NFL
Adrienne Klotz (Lighting Dir.) NFL Network
Roxanne Kosarzycki (General Counsel) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kimberley Layton (Dir. of Community Relations) San Diego Chargers
Lisa Lazarus (Labor Relations Counsel) NFL
Rita LeBlanc (Finance and Business Executive) New Orleans Saints
Belinda Lerner (Sr. Dir. of Employee Relations) NFL
Francine Lubera (Dir. of Publications and Assistant Public Relations Dir.) Baltimore Ravens
Melanie Marohl (Salary Cap Analyst) Green Bay Packers
Susan McBride-Rothman (VP of Consumer Products) NFL
Sandra McCann (Dir. of Financial Planning) NFL
Virginia McCaskey (Owner) Chicago Bears
Vicky Neumeyer (General Counsel) New Orleans Saints
Tracy Perlman (Dir. of Marketing) NFL
Christine Procops (VP and CFO) New York Giants
Sue Robichek (Dir. of Special Events & Planning) NFL
Krista Saponara (Feature Producer) NFL Network
Charleen Sharpe (Comptroller) New Orleans Saints
Brenda Sniezek (Dir. of Community Relations) Kansas City Chiefs
Allison Stangeby (Dir. of Community Relations) New York Giants
Donna Steele (Dir. of Purchasing) NFL
Jill Strafaci (Sr. VP of Finance & Administration) Miami Dolphins
Michelle Tessier (Dir. of Public Relations) Washington Redskins
Suzie Thomas (Sr. VP/General Counsel/Chief Administrative Officer) Houston Texans
Amy Trask (Chief Executive) Oakland Raiders
Vicki Vannieuwenhoven (Dir. of Finance) Green Bay Packers
Heather Wallace (Production Accountant) NFL Network
Deborah Wardrop (Dir. of Hospitality) NFL
Delores Barr Weaver (Chair/CEO of Jaguars Foundation) Jacksonville Jaguars
Marsha Wells (Controller) San Diego Chargers
Debby Whelchel (Controller) San Francisco 49ers
Kimberly Williams (Sr. VP of Finance & NFL Business Ventures) NFL
Catherine Yancy (Sr. Dir. of Marketing & Entertainment Programming) NFL
Denise DeBartolo York (Owner) San Francisco 49ers
Karen Zust (CFO) Chicago Bears
