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NFL news: New Buffalo Bills coach Phoebe Schecter speaks out on season aims

Schecter, 29, is joining the Bills as an intern coach having spent the last six years living in the UK.

She joins the east-coast franchise having been captain of the Great Britain team despite only taking up American football when she landed on British shores.

Schecter joins a Bills side who reached the playoffs last season for the first time in 18 years.

She becomes just the third woman to secure a coaching position in the NFL with Kathryn Smith the first, also at the Bills in 2016.

But having seen the franchise make the postseason last time out, Schecter knows it will be hard to repeat the feat.

“The second year is always the hardest but coach (Sean) McDermott and his coaching staff are trying to create an upward flow,” Schecter told Express Sport.

“All you can ask is that people give their all and it will be exciting to see how we all get on this season.

“They are an exciting franchise to team up with. They had Kathryn Smith originally and they’ve got Kim Pegula, who is brilliant as an owner.

“There are a lot of forward thinking people in the organisation which shows how the franchise wants to be.”

Schecter had spent some time at the Bills previous to being called up in a full-time role.

It came after being born in Connecticut to a British mother and American father.

And it was only in the UK that American football caught her eye.

She added: “The NFL has a female careers internship called the Bill Walsh Diversity Fellowship which opens the doors for minorities to be in the NFL.

“I applied last year and got the position with the Bills. I stayed in contact and managed to make it back this year.

“Then it’s all stemmed from there and it’s been an exciting journey.

“My role is a bit mixed. I’ll be working with the offense and defense special teams and assisting the head coach and his assistant with whatever they need.

“If you have a bigger pool to pick from for the role, then it’s great. I need to make sure I do the right thing to ensure others get the same opportunities.”

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