Arizona Cardinals Make Jen Welter NFL's First Female Coach
She was hired as an assistant coaching intern for training camp and preseason.
— -- The National Football League now has its first female coach.
The Arizona Cardinals scheduled a news conference for today where the team was expected to introduce Jen Welter, who has been hired as an assistant coaching intern for training camp and the preseason to work with inside linebackers, ESPN reports.
She is believed to be the first female coach in the NFL.
Welter, 37, became the first female coach in professional football in February when she joined the staff of the Texas Revolution in the Indoor Football League. A year before, she was the first woman to play a non-kicking position in a men's professional football league when she suited up for the Revolution at running back.
“She came for an OTA and I met her, and I thought she was the type of person that could handle this in a very positive way for women and open that door,” said head coach Bruce Arians.
Welter's hire comes as women make small inroads into men's professional sports. Earlier this year, the NFL hired Sarah Thomas as its first full-time female referee. Last year, the San Antonio Spurs hired Becky Hammon as an assistant coach and she led the team to a championship as its summer league head coach this month.