NFL News: Cleveland radio host bashes Bills’ historical hiring of first female coach, calls gender diversity in NFL ‘absurd’

The Buffalo Bills has become the first club in the NFL to have a full-time female assistant coach after bringing in Kathryn Smith, who will serve in the club’s special teams quality control. However, not all rejoiced at the historical decision the Bills have made.

Cleveland radio host Kevin Kiley, who co-hosts a sports-talk show on Cleveland’s 92.3 The Fan, is one who has some sexist comments about female coaches joining the NFL. Calling NFL’s gender diversity “absurd,” Kiley, who is also known for riling up at the NFL’s move to assign its first female referee, claimed that there was no place for a woman in professional sports, especially in American football coaching.

Here are some quotes from Kiley’s tirade about Bill’s hiring of Smith as transcribed by Dead Spin, where the full conversation of the radio host can be heard.

“Football is about physical advantage. [Women] are at a loss when it comes to the reference points of football,” Kiley said. “She couldn’t possibly be qualified to the same level that a man could be qualified to do that.”

But according to Bills head coach Rex Ryan, Smith deserves to be promoted, considering her knowledge of the game and commitment to her job, revealing the team's excitement of working with her in the coming season.

“She certainly deserves this promotion based on her knowledge and strong commitment, just to name a couple of her outstanding qualities,” Ryan said in a statement released by the team. “She has proven that she’s ready for the next step, so I’m excited and proud for her with this opportunity.”

The hiring of Smith as the NFL’s first full-time female coach comes after the Arizona Cardinals assigned Jennifer Welter to their scouting team as the first female assistant coach intern in American football’s history. According to Five Thirty Eight, the Bills’ move to bring in Smith ties the NBA for the best record in US pro sports in terms of gender diversity, with the basketball association having two female assistant coaches: Becky Hammon of the San Antonio Spurs and Nancy Lieberman of the Sacramento Kings.

Smith worked for the Bills as an administrative assistant for the team’s assistant coaches last season and served as an administrative assistant for the New York Jets for a number of years. Smith filled the void left by Michael Hamlin, who was not retained after the NFL regular season, and will help in assisting Bills special teams coordinator Danny Crossman and his assistant Eric Smith.