How Close Did Carli Lloyd Come to Playing in the NFL?

Lloyd, a three-time Women’s World Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist, was approached by NFL teams in the mid-2010s, according to reports from ESPN and The Athletic. The offers came after her dominant performances in the 2015 Women’s World Cup, where she scored the tournament’s fastest hat trick (16 minutes) and led the U.S. to victory.

While exact details remain unverified—including which teams made offers—sources close to the situation told ESPN that the NFL’s interest was genuine, driven by curiosity about whether a star athlete from another sport could adapt to the league’s physical demands. At the time, the NFL had no formal pathway for women to play, and Lloyd’s case highlighted the league’s lack of policies addressing gender inclusion.

Key figures:

• 2015: Peak of NFL interest, following Lloyd’s World Cup heroics.
• 2017: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell publicly acknowledged the need for “more diversity” in football, though no concrete steps were taken.
• 2023: The NFL launched its first-ever women’s football league, the NFL Women’s Football League, as part of broader inclusion efforts.

Why Didn’t Lloyd Sign? The NFL’s Structural Barriers

Lloyd ultimately declined the offers, citing a lack of clear infrastructure for women in the NFL. In a 2017 interview with The Players’ Tribune, she explained that while the NFL’s interest was flattering, the league had no established system for training, scouting, or rostering female players.

“They asked me to come in and try out, but there was no pathway. No team had a plan for how to integrate me. That’s not how you bring someone into a league that’s been around for nearly a century.”

At the time, the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) did not address gender inclusion, and teams had no mechanism to evaluate or sign female players. Lloyd’s case exposed a broader issue: the NFL’s rules and culture were designed for a male-dominated workforce, with no provisions for women seeking to play at the professional level.

Comparison: While Lloyd’s story gained attention, other female athletes—such as Heather Mitts, who sued the NFL in 2020—faced similar systemic barriers. Mitts’ lawsuit alleged discrimination, and while it was settled confidentially, it underscored the league’s historical exclusion of women.

The NFL’s Slow Shift Toward Inclusion: What Changed?

Since Lloyd’s near-miss with the NFL, the league has taken incremental steps toward gender inclusivity. In 2023, the NFL launched its Women’s Football League, a developmental program aimed at creating opportunities for female players. The league has also partnered with NCAA women’s football programs to identify talent.

However, critics argue the NFL’s efforts remain limited. According to a 2023 report by The Undefeated, the league has not yet signed a female player to a full-time roster spot, and the Women’s Football League operates with minimal media coverage compared to other NFL initiatives.

Timeline of NFL’s Gender Inclusion Efforts:

What Lloyd’s Story Reveals About Football’s Future

Lloyd’s NFL offers were not just a footnote in sports history—they were a symptom of a larger question: Can football, a sport built on physicality and tradition, adapt to modern demands for inclusivity?

Her case highlights three key challenges:

1. Lack of Infrastructure: The NFL had no scouting, training, or medical protocols for female athletes. Lloyd’s experience showed that without these systems, even the most talented players face barriers.
2. Cultural Resistance: Football’s identity is deeply tied to its male-dominated history. While the NFL has made PR-friendly gestures (such as the Women’s Football League), many fans and executives remain skeptical about the feasibility of women playing at the professional level.
3. Economic Realities: The NFL’s revenue model is built on a small, elite talent pool. Adding women to rosters would require significant investment in new facilities, medical research, and media coverage—costs the league has been reluctant to bear.

Yet, Lloyd’s story also offers a glimmer of hope. In a 2022 interview with Sports Illustrated, she said:

“The fact that they even asked me shows progress. But progress isn’t enough—it has to be real change.”

Since then, other female athletes—such as Lauren Wittman, a former USC quarterback—have joined the NFL’s developmental programs, signaling that Lloyd’s era of near-misses may be ending.

What Happens Next? The NFL’s Path Forward

The NFL’s Women’s Football League is scheduled to hold its first official games in 2025, with plans to expand to 16 teams by 2026. However, the league has not yet announced whether it will integrate female players into the traditional NFL roster system.

Key questions remain:

• Will the NFL ever sign a woman to a full-time roster spot?
• How will the league address concerns about safety and physical differences between male and female athletes?
• Will media coverage of women’s football grow, or remain a niche interest?

For now, Lloyd’s story serves as both a cautionary tale and a call to action. While the NFL has moved beyond mere curiosity, the league still has work to do to fulfill the promise of her near-miss opportunity.