Callie Brownson and Katie Sowers have not only played football at the world’s highest level for women, they’re also coaching the world’s greatest players.

Brownson and Sowers made headlines in recent months for making football coaching history. Sowers, an offensive assistant with the San Francisco 49ers, became the first female coach in a Super Bowl. Brownson was named the Chief of Staff to Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski in January, becoming the first full-time female coach in team history.

As a trailblazer in NFL coaching, Sowers sees momentum for women across America’s favorite sport.

“I’ve been in the NFL for five years and I remember first starting in Atlanta and it was new to even have just an intern or athletic trainer,” Sowers said. “It was their first time having a female athletic trainer. So, to go from seeing very few females in these spaces to now, where at the combine there’s women all over the place. The momentum is definitely moving in a positive direction and I’ve seen so much improvement throughout the years that I’ve been in the league.”

Brownson, a two-time gold medalist with the U.S. Women’s National Team, managed by USA Football, also has seen increased opportunities for women coaching football.

“When I was younger, you didn’t see female representation on the sidelines,” Brownson said. “Currently, there is a significant change in females on sidelines in coaching roles in youth, high school, college and professional football. Outside of coaching, the norm in the training room, weight room and film rooms (scouting) has also changed. It’s no longer an odd sight to see a female as an intricate part of a football team’s operation.”

Brownson and Sowers serve as role models for girls, but there were less role models for them growing up. Brownson’s main female role model was her grandmother, who taught her that the only person who can stop her from accomplishing a dream is herself. From a sports perspective, she looked to one of the most successful and revolutionary tennis players in history.

“I was also a very big Billie Jean King fan,” Brownson said. “To me, her lack of concern for other people’s opinions on who she was and whether she belonged in sport or not was inspiring.”

Brownson’s advice to girls wanting to get to where she is: Never forget why you want it.

“Remember why you started,” she said. “You’re going to hear a hundred ‘no’s’ before you hear a ‘yes.’ Remember why this goal was so important to you, stay true to your passion and see it through. I promise it’s worth it to push through.

“Also, always be a student because if you’re always evolving, you’ll always find ways to tackle the next obstacle.”

Sowers, a gold medalist with the 2013 U.S. Women’s National Team, credits her time as a player for her success and knowledge as a coach.

“I actually had the opportunity to create my own offense as I was also playing, so I was pushed outside my comfort zone to learn the game faster than probably a lot of players do when they first start,” she said. “I think those challenges helped me grow as a player and it helped me grow as a coach, in my knowledge of the game, but also in my ability to help other players learn in somewhat of the same fashion.”