Jennifer Welter
American football player (born 1977)
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Jennifer Welter (born October 27, 1977) is an American football coach who was most recently a defensive specialist for the Atlanta Legends of the Alliance of American Football (AAF). She was a defensive coaching intern for the National Football League's Arizona Cardinals during their training camp and the 2015 preseason, making her the first female coaching intern in the NFL.[1][2][3] This is her third "first" for men's football in 2014 and 2015.
Vero Beach, Florida
Welter in 2014 | |
| Profile | |
|---|---|
| Position | Running back |
| Personal information | |
| Born | October 27, 1977 Vero Beach, Florida |
| Listed height | 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m) |
| Listed weight | 130 lb (59 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Sebastian (FL) River |
| College | Boston College |
| Career history | |
Playing | |
| |
Coaching | |
| |
| Awards and highlights | |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Women's American football | ||
Representing  United States | ||
| World Championship | ||
 | 2010 Sweden | Team Competition |
| 2013 Finland | Team Competition |
On February 12, 2015, Champions Indoor Football's Texas Revolution named Welter their linebackers and special teams coach making her the first woman to coach in a men's professional football league.[4] A year prior, the 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m), 130 lb (59.0 kg) Welter was signed by the Revolution as a running back. This made her the second female player for a position other than kicker or placekick-holder on a men's professional football team, and the first at running back.[5] She is not the first female to play a male dominant sport; however, she is the second woman after ice hockey player Hayley Wickenheiser to play a "contact" position in a male dominant sport and the first woman in football to do so.[6]
Welter was featured in Mogul's #IAmAMogul campaign as part of Women's History Month in March 2016 for "changing the perception of what it means to be an NFL coach."[7]
Prior competition
Welter is a veteran of several women's professional and semi-professional football teams (including the Dallas Diamonds and Dallas Dragons).[8] She was a gold medal-winning member of Team USA at the IFAF Women's World Championship in 2010 and 2013.[5][9][10] She played rugby in college.[11]
Texas Revolution
Welter's first action as a Revolution running back came during a preseason game on February 15, 2014, against the North Texas Crunch. Welter rushed for three carries for −1 yards.[12][13][14][15][16] On February 19, the Revolution named Welter to their 2014 regular season roster.[17][18]
On February 12, 2015, the Revolution introduced Welter as their new linebackers and special teams coach. She is the first woman to coach in a men's professional football league.[5]
Arizona Cardinals
On July 27, 2015, the Arizona Cardinals hired Welter as an assistant coaching intern for training camp and the preseason; as such, she is believed to be the first female coach in the NFL.[19][20] Her internship with the Cardinals expired after the team's third preseason game on August 30, 2015.[21] Her coaching style does not differ from many, according to Cardinals' Tyrann Mathieu. The Washington Post added, "The biggest question coming in was would guys in the NFL respond to a woman coaching them, and the obvious answer is yes".[22]
Atlanta Legends
On December 11, 2018, Welter was hired by the Atlanta Legends of the newly-formed Alliance of American Football as a defensive specialist under head coach Brad Childress.[23]
Education
Welter graduated from Boston College and has a master's degree in Sport psychology and a PhD in psychology from Capella University.[24]
Awards
In 2015, Jennifer Welter received the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Pioneer Award[25] in recognition for her achievements in the sports world.[26]