Jen Welter

Anything is Possible in Coaching

Dr. Jen Welter is a nothing short of a trailblazer, knocking down barriers to secure a position on the biggest stage in sport as the first female coach in the NFL. In summer 2015, she served as a linebackers coach for the Arizona Cardinals, a period of time defined by the bond she formed with the players. During her tenure, she captured the attention of the NFL and other major leagues, the sports media and the nation with her drive and her exemplary execution. The significance of Welter’s impact on the NFL was so profound, her coaching shirt and photo have been enshrined in Canton, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

Welter appears regularly as an NFL and sports analyst on NBC, ESPN, and the NFL Network and in national newspapers and other publications. Welter was recognized at the United Nations as Sports Pioneer of the Year on Women’s Entrepreneurship Day. ESPNW also named her one of the 25 most influential women in sport in 2015. 
In the spirit of literally, changing the game, Welter founded her brand Jenny Football. At the heart of the brand is the sentiment that, “Football was long referred to as the final frontier for women in sports, so when a female can coach in the NFL, then anything is possible.” Jenny Football is committed to providing inspiration, access, training, resources, and opportunities to those once considered outsiders to the game.  

Widely known as a pioneer in professional football, becoming the first woman to coach in the NFL was only her most recent first. In 2014, Welter became the first woman to play running back in a men's professional football league. In early 2015, Welter was hired as the first female coach in men’s professional football, helping coach the most successful Revolution season in franchise history. Welter holds a doctorate degree in Psychology, a Master’s in Sport Psychology, and a Bachelor’s degree from Boston College.