Arizona Cardinals Hire First Female Coach in NFL

Dr. Jen Welter is breaking new ground in the NFL. Not only is she a football veteran (The 37-year-old played professionally for 14 years, mostly for a women's team based in Dallas. Her career included a stint with the Texas Revolution Indoor League where she was the first ever to play toe-to-toe with the men. She then joined that team as an assistant coach.) But she also holds a Doctorate in Psychology and a Masters in sports technology. And did I mention she was just hired as the first ever female coach in the NFL?

The Arizona Cardinals invited Welter to their spring training camp not as a player, but as a trainer. She'll soon be taking the field with the men once again. Although progress is slow, women are making a dent in the hyper-competitive world of men's major professional sports. Last August, Becky Hammon became the first full-time female assistant coach in NBA history. And this past spring, the NFL announced Sarah Thomas will become the league's first full-time female official. It's definitely a man dominated sports world but women are gradually starting to make their mark.

Welter's job isn't a long-term commitment from the Cardinals. She will be part of the staff for only training camp and the preseason, but it has the potential to turn into further opportunities. I applaud her and hope to see her again in the NFL on longer terms.