With Black History Month in full e-f-f-e-c-t, there is a Super Superbowl story no one is talking about. Sure everyone is talking about Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show featuring another escalation in one of the great Hip-Hop beefs of all time, which was a mesmerizing blend of music, culture, and social commentary, leaving an unforgettable mark on the biggest stage in sports. Then you had two Black starting quarterbacks, Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes facing off against each other in the Super Bowl for the second time in three years.
As the confetti came down inside the Caesars Superdome on the Philadelphia Eagles following their wire-to-wire victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59, what I haven’t heard the mainstream media discussing is that Philadelphia Eagles Assistant Sports Performance Coach Autumn Lockwood made history as the first Black woman coach to win a Super Bowl when the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59 at the Caesars Superdome. They did not highlight how her stunning Super Bowl victory solidified her legacy and paved the road for more Black women to join the NFL coaching ranks.
Yes, Autumn Lockwood has once again made her mark on history. In 2023, she made history as the first Black woman to coach in a Super Bowl, serving as an assistant sports performance coach for the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII. Fast forward to the present, and she’s made history by being the first Black woman coach to win a Super Bowl. And the fact that very few mainstream media outlets are talking about it, especially since it happened during Black History Month is egregious.
Sure Lamar’s solo headlining halftime show made history as the first-ever hip-hop artist to command the stage alone. Lamar’s 13-minute set was nothing short of spectacular. He opened with his Grammy-winning hit “HUMBLE.”, setting the tone for an electrifying show filled with cinematic visuals and intricate choreography. The rapper seamlessly transitioned into “DNA.”, a song that speaks to his personal journey and the resilience of Black culture. But it overshadowed Lockwood’s historic achievement at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday, February 9th which deserves to be equally celebrated.
So allow me to introduce her to those who do not know her name. Autumn Lockwood was named an associate performance coach by the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2023 offseason. She originally joined the organization as a strength and conditioning associate in 2022.
Before the Eagles, Lockwood served as the director of sports performance at the University of Houston (2021-22) and was the assistant director of basketball sports performance at East Tennessee State (2020-21). In 2019, Lockwood gained her first NFL experience as an intern for the Atlanta Falcons’ strength staff during organized team activities.
From 2018-20, Lockwood worked as a strength and conditioning graduate assistant with the basketball program at East Tennessee State. She also interned with UNLV’s football program (2017-18) and assisted in strength and conditioning efforts for the University of Arizona’s Olympic sports (2017).
A native of Media, PA, Lockwood received her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in psychology from Arizona. She also obtained her master’s degree in sports management from East Tennessee State.
Now, following their 40-23 victory over Kansas City, Lockwood has helped the team win its first Super Bowl under Jalen Hurts, and the team has maintained their promise about Lockwood’s historic feat. And from now on when you celebrate Black History, Women’s History and even NFL and Superbowl History make sure you put some respect on Autumn Lockwood’s name!
