SportsAsToldByAGirl Spotlight: Dr. Jen Welter

Photo Credit: Ralph Freso/Getty Images

In honor of her NFL debut, the person in this week’s spotlight is Dr. Jen Welter. Even though many are just now finding out about Welter, she has been making history way before this. First, she was named the first woman to coach a men’s professional league, then being the first woman to play running back in a men’s league. Now, the one that most people know, the first female coach in the NFL. In addition to her on the field accomplishments, Welter has a master’s degree in sports psychology and a Ph.D. in psychology.

Welter making history in the NFL is an accomplishment, there’s no doubt about that. However, it’s the title that seems a little less out of place. With so many accomplishments on Welter’s resume, why would she just be an intern? Clearly, Welter has the chops to be able to play with the big boys and to be able to coach them. The NFL’s a business, I’ll give you that, but what’s the point in having an intern who might not even around the whole season? (According to ESPN, Welter only has her internship for six weeks)

Of course when asked about her position, Welter kept her head high, “Being a woman is part of who I am. It’s not all of who I am, and I’m not here just because I’m a woman. I’m here as a football coach.” Welter brings up an amazing point that not a lot of people have even thought about when discussing her. Welter is a woman, yes, but she’s also an athlete, a doctor and a coach. Whenever she is asked about being the first woman in a position, she will discuss briefly how groundbreaking it is, but she has a love for the game which is what is so groundbreaking about her. Welter has seamlessly no fear in making her way into “the man’s world” and has no problems calling out the media too, something that many NFL staff/players tend to stay away from, “Unfortunately I think the hardest thing in our society right now, no offense, is the media.” Welter is completely right to call out the media, especially in terms of the genders being separated, but she is leading a new frontier for women, one where women and men will be able to interact on and off the playing field without it becoming a national headline.

Regardless if Welter ends up keeping her job for longer, she made history in the NFL and it will never be the same now. She has unknowingly led the world to pay attention to how unequal women are treated, especially in sports. All the success has no gone to Welter’s head and she knows that she’s just there until her time is up, but there’s one quote from her which sums up everything perfectly.

In her first official press conference after being hired by the Cardinals, Welter sat beside HC Bruce Arians and made a powerful statement, “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 those things.” Even though everything seemed stacked against Welter, her hard work and determination really shone through and helped her land the position she has now.

The real history will be made when women are hired in sports and it’s not a big shock to everyone and Welter will be there as the pioneer of it all.