Bills hire NFL's first full-time female assistant coach

Bills hire NFL's first full-time female assistant coach

Dawn Aponte is Miami's executive vice president of football administration, and has been involved in the front offices of the Dolphins, Jets, Browns and the NFL for 25 years.

Among others on a quickly growing list of high-ranking women in NFL franchises include Katie Blackburn, Cincinnati's executive vice president; Jeanne Bonk, San Diego's executive vice president and chief financial officer; and Hannah Gordon, San Francisco's vice president of legal and government affairs.

In August 2014, former WNBA player Becky Hammon was hired by the San Antonio Spurs to join coach Gregg Popovich's staff, making her the NBA's first full-time paid female assistant coach.

Smith has 13 seasons of NFL experience, and began her career in 2003 as a Jets game-day/special events intern.

Two years later, the Jets promoted her to become a college scouting intern, and eventually became the team's player personnel assistant in 2007.