As the Philadelphia Eagles embark on the bright lights of Super Bowl LVII, there will be several firsts to take place as the ceremonial pigskin is kicked to signify the beginning of the epic battle. First, it will mark the first time two African American quarterbacks will play for the Lombardi Trophy. Second, it will be the first time an African American woman will serve as a coach in any facet. Meet Autumn Lockwood. Autumn is the Philadelphia Assistance Performance Coach, and she will stand as the league’s first black woman to coach in the Super Bowl. To date, when Autumn takes the field on Super Bowl Sunday, it will mark the fourth time a woman has coached in the prestigious game.
Autumn joined the Eagles organization in 2022 after a stint with the University of Houston Cougars. A former soccer player at the University of Arizona, Autumn is well versed in college athletics and a student of the game. A native of Morgantown, West Virginia, Autumn excelled as a student at University High School and was named Girls All-Star Most Valuable Defensive Player in 2012 by the Sports Writers Association.
Autumn Lockwood would continue by being a standout soccer player for the University of Arizona, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice in 2015. Autumn followed her bachelor’s with a Master’s in Sports Management from East Tennessee State University.
Autumn has an important responsibility; making sure the Eagles are ready and physically up for the challenge. As the Eagles Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Autumn has the task of making sure each and every player is capable of reaching their full potential on the field Sunday. What’s being regarded as the biggest stage in the world, players can lose focus on fitness and workout habits. That’s where Autumn is all too important in the scheme of ensuring the overall objective is achieved! The Eagles players and organization have full confidence in Autumn, and trust me; they are laser focused and ready to fly!
Autumn’s coaching began in 2018 as a graduate assistant Strength and conditioning coach. From there, she helped both the men’s and women’s basketball players stay in game time shape. However, before ETSU, Autumn had worked for the University of Nevada Las Vegas as an assistant football strength coach where she developed nutrition packets for preseason and offseason schedules for the players. To say it’s in her blood, would be an understatement.
As the NFL in its commitment to diversity has made monumental progress in the past ten years, Autumn Lockwood is an example of the greatness a African American woman is capable of. The league now has a total of six full-time female coaches of color. On Sunday, February 12, 2023 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the world will witness a tremendous game filled with some amazing firsts. Super Bowl LVII will make the first time in history two African American quarterbacks will face-off for the title. The Eagles’ Jalen Hurts and the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahones, both from Texas will take the field for their respective teams and go down in history books setting the stage for those to come behind them. The game will also feature Travis Kelce of the Chiefs’ and Jason Kelce of the Eagles, marking the first siblings to compete against each other in a Super Bowl.
