Callie Brownson (born October 15, 1989)[1] is an American football coach and player who is the assistant wide receivers coach for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL).[2] In September 2018, she became the first woman hired as a full-time NCAA Division I coach, when she was promoted by Dartmouth, after briefly working as an intern for the team.[3][4]
.jpg) Brownson in 2021 | |
| Cleveland Browns | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Assistant wide receivers coach |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | October 15, 1989 Mount Vernon, Virginia, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Mount Vernon |
| College: | George Mason University |
| Career history | |
| As a player: | |
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| As a coach: | |
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| As an executive: | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Women's American football | ||
Representing  United States
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| World Championship | ||
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2013 Finland | Team Competition |
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2017 Vancouver | Team Competition |
Brownson played for the D.C. Divas in the Women's Football Alliance (WFA) from 2010 to 2017 as a free safety and running back, winning two championships. She also won two gold medals with the United States women's national American football team.
Early life
editBorn in Mount Vernon, Virginia, Brownson was raised by her father, Bruce B. Brownson.[1][5] She attended Mount Vernon High School,[6] where she played softball,[1] as the football team would not allow girls.[7]
Playing career
editWhile attending George Mason University, Brownson tried out for the D.C. Divas in the Women's Football Alliance (WFA) at age 19.[1][7] She played with the team for eight seasons, five of which she served as a team captain and four of which she was named All-American. Brownson was also a member of the United States women's national American football team when it won the IFAF Women's World Championship in 2013 and 2017.[2][3]
Coaching career
editBrownson was an assistant football coach at her alma mater, Mount Vernon High School, for three seasons, beginning at age 21.[1][7] In 2017, she served as a scouting intern for the New York Jets.[3] In 2019, she was hired by the Buffalo Bills to serve as a coaching intern.[8]
She became the first woman to coach an NFL position group in a regular-season game when she filled in for the Cleveland Browns tight ends coach Drew Petzing in a week 12 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 29, 2020.[9] She filled in for passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Chad O'Shea during the week 17 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers,[10] and for Petzing again during the Browns' first game of the 2020–21 NFL playoffs.[11] On March 3, 2023, Brownson was promoted to assistant wide receivers coach.[12]
Arrest
editOn May 27, 2021, Brownson was arrested in Brunswick, Ohio after she was observed driving 20 miles per hour above the speed limit. Her blood alcohol content was .215, over twice the legal limit of .08. On June 8, 2021, Brownson pleaded no contest to a charge of operating a vehicle under the influence. She was fined and ordered to attend a driver intervention program.[13] The Browns announced that she was suspended from team activities and would face discipline.[14][15]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Team USA – Callie Brownson, D.C. Divas". Women's Football Alliance. Archived from the original on February 2, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
- ^ a b "Callie Brownson named Chief of Staff for Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski". www.clevelandbrowns.com. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
- ^ a b c Jones, Kaelen (September 11, 2018). "Callie Brownson Promoted At Dartmouth, Becomes First Female Full-Time Division I Coach". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
- ^ "Dartmouth hires two women as coaching interns, a rare move in college football". USA TODAY. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
- ^ Lundmark, Aaron (July 6, 2016). "Mount Vernon Local Thrives in Women's Professional Football". Mount Vernon Gazette. Archived from the original on September 27, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
- ^ "'The kind of stuff you dream about': Alexandria native is college football's 1st full-time Div. 1 female coach". WTOP. September 14, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
- ^ a b c Bogage, Jacob. "Virginia native becomes first female Division I college football coach". The Free Lance-Star. Archived from the original on June 10, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
- ^ "Buffalo Bills adding Callie Brownson as intern to coaching staff for 2019". democratandchronicle.com. August 21, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- ^ "Cleveland Browns: Callie Brownson becomes first female NFL position coach". Sky Sports. November 29, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
- ^ Risdon, Jeff (January 2, 2021). "Callie Brownson will replace Chad O'Shea as Browns WR coach vs. Steelers". USAToday.com. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ Smith, Pete (January 8, 2021). "Browns Finally Practice, 7 Players Listed as Questionable, Including 3 All-Pros". Sports Illustrated Cleveland Browns News, Analysis and More. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
- ^ "Browns promote Callie Brownson to assistant WR coach; promote assistant DB coach Brandon Lynch to CB coach". cleveland.com. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ Cabot, Mary Kay (June 8, 2021). "Browns Chief of Staff Callie Brownson convicted of drunken driving in Brunswick; club vows to take 'appropriate disciplinary actions'". Cleveland.com. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
- ^ Gordon, Grant (June 9, 2021). "Browns chief of staff Callie Brownson charged with operating a vehicle impaired". NFL.com. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
- ^ Trotter, Jake (June 9, 2021). "Browns chief of staff suspended after DUI". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
External links
edit
- WFA profile
- Dartmouth profile Archived 2018-09-27 at the Wayback Machine