(Collette Smith)

The Jets plan to hire Collette Smith as an intern working with defensive backs during training camp, making her just the third woman to work in a coaching capacity for an NFL team.

Collette Smith  is also currently a coach and marketing executive with the New York Sharks, a team under the Independent Women’s Football League. Before working on the sidelines, Smith played for the Sharks for three years before a knee injury.

“I’m over the top. I’m humbled and I’m proud,” Smith shared. “This could have happened with any NFL team. But it just so happened that it was with my beloved New York Jets. This is bigger because of that. God forbid it would have been with the Patriots. But I still would have done it.”

Third Woman Coach in the NFL

Collette Smith will follows in the footsteps of Jen Welter and Kathryn Smith. Welter joined the Cardinals as a training camp coaching intern in July of 2015. Smith was hired by the Bills in January of 2016, where she was the special teams quality control coach and the first female full-time coach.

“One day a woman will come to a football team, and it won’t be a big story. It’ll just be football,” Smith said. “When that day comes, I’ll be more honored and even more proud.”

The move is not official yet, as the Jets have yet to announce the hiring. Shout out to Gang Green for looking beyond gender and recognizing true talent. Truly believe , Collette will leave a great impression on the Jets young crop of defensive backs, this summer.