CLEVELAND — Editor's note: the video in the player above is from a previous story.
USA Football has selected Browns Chief of Staff Callie Brownson to serve as the head coach of the 2022 United States Women’s Tackle National Team. The team will be competing at the 2022 International Federation of American Football Women’s Tackle World Championship in Vantaa, Finland, from July 27 through August 8.
“I’m really grateful for everybody who had a part in my journey, I’m really grateful for every opportunity that I’ve had," Brownson said in a Zoom call with reporters on Thursday. "I’m just very excited to put this team together. We’re tasked with something really great. It’s been five years since the last time that the women’s national team came together, almost five years, and the world has gotten better since.
"That’s something I’m going to challenge these women to, is that the world is coming for the U.S. Team. We’ve won three gold medals, and we want a fourth, and so do they. They want a gold medal too. We have a big challenge ahead of us, one that I’m very excited for. I’m excited to see how this team comes together as a staff and then also the players. Just really grateful to USA Football, really grateful to the Browns for also allowing me to take on this opportunity. I’m just very excited.”
Brownson will be in charge of the roster comprised of 45 women as well as seven assistant coaches in a tournament of the top eight women’s national teams in American football. The 2022 IFAF Women’s Tackle World Championship will be the fourth edition of it, with the United States taking home the gold medal at each of the three previous tournaments.
Brownson has four years of coaching experience, spending one year at Dartmouth, one year with the Buffalo Bills, and is currently in her second season with the Browns. Prior to that, she was a receiver and safety on the gold medal-winning U.S. teams in 2013 and 2017.
“USA Football has made a tremendous selection in Callie,” Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “In addition to the honor that comes with representing the United States, this is an exciting professional development opportunity, which I encourage for everyone on our coaching staff. Callie and USA Football have our full support.”