USA Football emphasizes the importance of football for all and actively supports and participates in the creation of pathways for more people to participate in the sport. In the coming months, USA Football will highlight and share the experiences of exceptional members of the football community who have expanded the sport’s scope through their play. 

Quarterback Brittany Bushman always knew she wanted to play tackle football, even if it meant constantly fighting against the grain in a sport primarily played by boys and men. Fortunately, she broke through barriers and emerged as a heroic figure for the U.S. Women’s Tackle National Team. This is Bushman’s story.  

“I have been playing football since the fourth grade. I loved running around the neighborhood and playing all the sports, but football has always been my favorite,” Bushman said. “When it came time to play organized football in fourth grade, my mom did not hesitate to sign me up. I played throughout high school as the only girl on the boys’ team and earned my varsity letters junior and senior year.” 

Bushman received support from her mom as she battled against her school’s athletic department, which was hesitant to allow a girl to play tackle football. Their conviction eventually wore down the athletic department’s barricade and opened the door for Bushman to pursue her favorite sport.  

“Playing with the boys through my formative years was very challenging. I had to continually prove to my male teammates and coaches that I was worthy and good enough to be on the field with them,” Bushman explained. “I constantly had to break barriers and prove football was not only for the boys but for the girls as well. In high school, the athletic department tried hard to prevent me from playing the game I loved by insisting field hockey would be a more appropriate sport for females to play during the fall season. Thankfully, my mom fought back citing Title IX policies and a potential lawsuit if the school did not let me play. The district allowed me to participate, and I became the first female to play at Portsmouth High School in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.” 

The U.S. Women’s Tackle National Team appeared on Bushman’s radar in 2013, when USA Football held trials for the team that would compete in the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Women's World Championship in Austin, Texas.  

“I knew I had one of the best arms in the country and wanted to take a shot at showcasing my abilities,” Bushman said. “I was fortunate enough to be chosen as one of three quarterbacks to make the roster that would compete in Finland for gold. Unfortunately, I tore my ACL during the regular season and did not get to take the field in Finland.” 

However, Bushman did not let the injury keep her down for long as she came back to play a vital role in the landscape of women’s tackle football.  

“After a five-year hiatus, I made my comeback to women’s football in 2018 and went on to win four IX Cup Championships in the Women’s National Football Conference (WNFC),” Bushman said. “At the beginning of 2022, USA Football held their National Team Trials again, which I attended. After that tryout, I was named the starting quarterback and we went on to win our fourth gold medal at the Women’s World Games in Vantaa, Finland. I was honored with the tournament MVP award.” 

Bushman led the 2022 U.S. Women’s Tackle National Team to a 42-14 win over Great Britain in the gold medal game of the IFAF Women's World Championship, capturing the national team’s fourth consecutive gold medal. She passed for four touchdowns and more than 200 yards in the game.  

The atmosphere in Finland was electric after the win, but some of Bushman’s favorite memories with the National Team were formed on home soil.   

“One of my favorite memories from the 2022 U.S. National Team has to be the week of training camp before we traveled abroad for the world tournament,” Bushman said. “The camp was a week of straight football from the time we woke up to the time we went to bed. We stayed in college dorm rooms, ate together, practiced together and recovered together. It was an opportunity to get to know each of my teammates more personally as we built chemistry and comradery. It was football all day, like it was our jobs, like we were professional players only having to worry about learning our playbooks, taking care of our bodies, building friendships and becoming a team. I would go back in a heartbeat.”  

The training camp provided an environment Bushman hopes women will experience more often as the sport gains popularity. For now, tackle football still takes a significant financial investment from players.    

“As adult female tackle players, the major challenge is money. Women do not get paid to play this beautiful game, yet,” explained Bushman. “Every season, we are required to pay player fees which help the organization pay for field/stadium costs, referees on game days, uniforms, equipment, travel expenses and more. Many of us have full-time careers and responsibilities before getting to take the field. Playing women’s tackle football is like having a part time job on top of your full-time job and everyday life responsibilities.” 

As Bushman rounds out her career, she has set her eyes on the game’s larger picture and how she can pass her experiences on to the next generation.  

“As I begin retirement, I plan to give back to the game by passing on the knowledge I've gained throughout my career by coaching flag and tackle football for both boys and girls,” Bushman said. “I also host individual and small group skill and drill sessions.” 

Bushman will look to provide the mentorship and opportunities to younger athletes that she received from 2022 U.S. National Team head coach Callie Brownson, Texas Elite Spartans head coach and football legend Odessa Jenkins and former Dallas Diamonds head coach Bobby Vadnais.