INDIANAPOLIS – As the National Football League (NFL) gathers in Indianapolis for the 2026 Scouting Combine, the week's focus extends beyond evaluating potential prospects on the field. At the 10th annual NFL Women's Forum presented by AWS, Cleveland Browns Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry was awarded the Buddy Teevens Forward Progress Award by the NFL recognizing his leadership in expanding opportunity and advancing inclusion for women across football operations.
The award, established in 2023, honors the life and legacy of Buddy Teevens, the former Dartmouth College head football coach who was a pioneering advocate for women in football. In 2018, Teevens made history by hiring Callie Brownson as the first full-time female Division I coach in college football history. Brownson later became the first woman to coach a position group during an NFL game with the Browns in 2020 and served as the Browns Chief of Staff and then Assistant Wide Receivers coach.
Berry has channeled Teevens' philosophy into his own leadership. Since being named general manager in 2020, he has prioritized building a football operations department that reflects a wide range of perspectives. His approach has always focused on hiring the best, and this broad and intentional approach has led the organization to use the NFL Women's Forum as a pipeline for talent. Today, the Browns have the most women in team operations across the league.
"I really just want to say how proud and appreciative I am of all the fantastic women we have at the Browns organization across football operations," said Berry when accepting the award. "They help us push for greatness and excellence every day. And I'm so blessed and thankful to have coworkers and teammates that are like the ones who are in this room."
Now in its 10th year, the NFL Women's Forum helps the NFL identify women currently working in college football to join its next generation of leaders. Participants engage in networking, professional development and career advancement opportunities with league executives and decision-makers. The Buddy Teevens Forward Progress Award recognizes individuals who continually expand access and opportunity for underrepresented individuals in football leadership. Berry has been involved with the women's forum for over five years as both an attendee and a panel speaker.
"Andrew has always been intentional about hiring the best and creating pipelines for talented individuals from all backgrounds is a big part of that," Haslam Sports Group Managing and Principal Partners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said. "It contributes to the culture we're committed to building at the Browns – one that values a variety of perspectives, while fostering talent to build a winning organization. We're proud to have him leading our football operation."
About the NFL's Women's Forum:
The NFL Women's Forum helps the NFL identify women currently working in college football to join its next generations of leaders. The invite-only Forum takes place during the NFL's Scouting Combine and connects women candidates currently working in college football with owners, general managers, head coaches and club executives in the NFL and in college football programs. To help attendees grow their network and learn industry insights, the Forum includes one comprehensive day of panel discussions, presentations and roundtables. Participants get an exclusive look into coaching, strength and conditioning, player personnel, team operations, football administration, research and strategy, video and equipment.
