49ers Have First Openly Gay Coach In Super Bowl History
The 49ers have the first openly gay coach in Super Bowl history.
San Francisco defeated the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night to win the NFC Championship Game.
In doing so, the organization secured a bid to Super Bowl LIV and will now play for a championship in two weeks.
One other noteworthy thing the 49ers did when they beat the Packers is make an interesting bit of history.
Niners offensive assistant, Katie Sowers, is now the first woman and openly gay coach in Super Bowl history.
“Takin our talents to South Beach,” she posted on Instagram Sunday.
The 33-year-old is a former Woman’s Football Alliance player has served with the 49ers for three years.
Unsurprisingly, San Francisco’s players have nothing but positive things to say about her.
“She been tremendous,” Jimmy Garoppolo said recently.
“Katie was here before I was, but just what she does with the receivers, all the skill positions guys, how she interacts with them. It’s special.
“She’s feisty, man. Katie is awesome out there. She’ll get after guys … It’s fun to be around.”
Fullback Kyle Juszczyk was similarly effusive in his praise.
“Katie’s been phenomenal,” Juszczyk said.
“She’s someone we’ve been able to lean on. If I ever have a question on a route or something, no hesitation and I can go talk to her. She’s a phenomenal asset to our team.”
Sowers was hired in 2016 as a coaching intern and scouting intern for the Atlanta Falcons. During the process, she ended up meeting Kyle Shanahan, who was the team’s offensive coordinator at the time.
Shanahan ultimately ended up bringing Sowers to San Francisco with him.
“Katie did a real good job for us in Atlanta, she’s done a really good job here,” Shanahan said.
“She helps [receivers coach] Mike LaFleur out, just with some rotations and she helps our quality control [coaches] out just with all the stuff they have to do. She’s a hard worker, you don’t even notice her because she just goes to work and does what’s asked.”
Now Sowers will look to make a new type of history: the first woman and openly gay coach to win a Super Bowl.
Will she be able to get it done? One way or another we will get our answer come Feb. 2.
Related: Danica Patrick Posts Emotional Instagram Photo
Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.
