Lauren Silberman is the first woman in history to earn an NFL tryout, and though the 28-year-old kicker is realistic about her slim chances of making a team, she still thinks her feat will be good for the league.
Silberman is part of a group of players invited to an NFL regional scouting combine, which features players not invited to the main combine held next week in Indianapolis, Yahoo! Sports noted. The New Yorker will join college kickers on March 2 and 3 in New Jersey, with the best participants moving on to a super-regional held in April in Dallas.
Lauren Silberman herself admitted that her chances of landing with an NFL team are slim, but still hopes her participation will prompt more women to try out.
“I was not aware that I was the first female registrant,” Silberman told NFL.com on Tuesday. “I was actually hoping that the 2012 historical milestone rule, to allow women to play, would prompt more women to attend tryouts this year. But for me, what’s important is to finally have a chance to fulfill my dreams by trying out to play in the world’s most competitive football league.
Silberman has actually not kicked a football in a while. She attended the University of Wisconsin, where she played club soccer.
Still, she is looking forward to the combine and the chance to become the NFL’s first female player.
“The opportunity to attend this event could not be more exciting,” Lauren Silberman said. “Getting to meet interesting people and perfect my technique from others could not be more rewarding … Regardless of the outcome of the tryout, I hope there is a way I can contribute and strengthen the league.”
While Lauren Silberman’s chances of becoming the NFL’s first female player may be small, the regional combines have yielded NFL players before. Just last year, kicker Greg Zuerlein emerged from the regionals to earn a starting spot with the St. Louis Rams.
