The National Football League has traditionally been a bastion of manliness, with millions tuning in every week from August to January to watch men in tight pants slam into each other. As of this summer, however, a woman named Jen Welter has finally broken through the defensive line. Welter hails from my own hometown of Dallas, where after 14 seasons of playing with the Dallas Diamonds of the Women's Football Alliance she became a running back and special teams player for a men's minor league indoor football team called the Texas Revolution. She was the first woman to play for a professional men's football team in a position other than kicker. After joining the coaching staff of Revolution for a few months, the Ariona Cardinals have now hired her to work with their inside linebackers during training camp and the preseason. This makes her the first female coach in the NFL.
Displaying a humble spirit, she has responded to all the attention
by saying she just wants to inspire girls to reach for their goals. “I want little girls to grow up knowing that when they put their mind to something, when they work hard, that they can do anything regardless” of the expectations of others.
If that isn't enough to make you love her, she is also highly educated, with a master's degree in sports psychology and a PhD in psychology. It seems I'm not the only one to become mildly obsessed with her. Welter's following on social media has taken off, plus this clip of fans cheering for her proves that the NFL has a lot to gain by hiring more women. Let's hope this trend continues!
