Jen Welter Makes History As NFL’s First Ever Female Coach


As of Monday this week, the Arizona Cardinals have made NFL history by hiring Jen Welter, the first female coach in the history of the game. For now, she’s officially the coaching intern, working with linebackers for the pre-season training camp. The fact that the role is temporary does not diminish its significance nor the bar that has been set for NFL to continue making historical inclusions.

Jen has 14 seasons of playing pro football under her belt and is a most welcome addition to the team. Welter also happens to hold a PhD in Psychology and a Masters in Sports Psychology, only adding to her qualifications. The Times reported that Welter is actually no stranger to making NFL history. In February of 2014, she was a part of the Indoor Football League Texas Revolution, playing running back and special teams. Here, she became the first female in the men’s professional football league to play a non-kicking position, another historical moment in the NFL.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians was more than willing to be the one to help her to make history once more with his decision.

NFL quotes Arians as stating that, “Coaching is nothing more than teaching. The one thing I’ve learned from players: all they want to know is ‘How are you going to make me better? If you can make me better, I don’t care if you’re the Green Hornet. I’ll listen.”

Arians, like Welter, is known to take his own unique path career wise. It was just in April that Arians had mentioned being questioned regarding the lack of females in coaching positions and only four months later, Jen Welter was hired. It was the Revolution coach who brought Welter to the attention of Arians and clearly he was receptive to the choice.

This historic moment for the NFL has not gone unnoticed or unappreciated. The Arizona governor, Doug Ducey, even took the time to issue a statement of welcome to Welter, congratulating her on making NFL history.

“I want to be one of the first to welcome Coach Jen Welter to Arizona and to the Cardinals, and congratulate her on making NFL history. Arizona is truly proud. I salute Bruce Arians, Michael Bidwill and the entire Cardinals organization for this hire. Coach Welter’s experience speaks for itself, and as a Cardinals fan, I could not be more excited that she’ll be preparing our favorite team during the preseason.”

This historic moment for the NFL comes on the heels of the NBA also making the same move earlier. The San Antonio Spurs made their assistant coach Becky Hammon the first female head coach in the NBA Summer League. Hammon proved critics and fans alike that she was more than qualified when she led her team to win the 2015 Summer League title.

Jen Welter, with this NFL hire, is forever a part of the growing list of women making history in sports and we look forward to seeing more progression.

[Photo Courtesy of JenWelter.com]

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