Next Woman Up: Maya Ana Callender, Scouting Assistant for the New England Patriots

Women are rising up the ranks throughout professional football, earning positions of power in a space that for too long was ruled almost exclusively by men. We're seeing more and more women breaking barriers in the sport, but what are the stories beyond the headlines? Who are the women shaping and influencing the NFL today? Answering those questions is the aim of the Next Woman Up series. While the conversational Q&As are edited and condensed for clarity, this is a forum for impactful women to share experiences in their own words. Without further ado, we introduce:

Position: Scouting Assistant

How did you get your start in a career in football?

My little brother, Malcolm, played football, and he and I grew up being football fans together. Because of that bond and our love for the game, I knew I wanted to do something in football in my career, but I didn't know what that looked like. I was a student at Utica University, a small Division III school in Upstate New York, and going into my freshman year, I knew I wanted to work for the football team. I applied for a random office job for the football team in my second week of school. I didn't hear from the football coach, Blaise Faggiano, so I decided to email him and introduce myself. I guess that impressed him because he called me in for a meeting and hired me right afterward. I was an office manager for the team, answering phones and organizing mail. By homecoming of that season, I was on the sideline as a student manager, helping out with equipment, game-day needs and at practice. I give a lot of credit to Coach Faggiano for letting me be involved in every aspect.

I saw that you took part in several fellowships and internships with NFL teams prior to joining the