Dr. Jen Welter is a football player, professional men’s football coach, sports psychologist, advocate, author, producer, and founder. Known for being the first woman to ever coach an NFL team, Dr. Welter broke the glass sidelines as the linebackers coach for the Arizona Cardinals. Dr. Welter continues to coach football today, as she brings her expertise and knowledge to her position as linebackers coach for the Vegas Vipers of the XFL. On a non-professional level, Dr. Welter actively coaches young people—especially girls—to encourage them to break into male-dominated arenas just like she did.
Dr. Jen Welter graduated from Boston College with a master’s degree in sports psychology and from Capella University with a PhD in psychology. As a sports psychologist, Dr. Welter works with athletes, families, and teams to cultivate winning mindsets, positive outlooks, and brand-new perspectives on what it takes to effectively motivate in competitive environments.
Above everything else, Dr. Jen Welter is an advocate. She may be known for being the first—the first female NFL coach, the first woman to coach men’s professional football, the first woman to play running back in a men’s professional football league—but these weren’t the goals that she set out on achieving. Dr. Welter’s biggest success of her career has been advocating for women and creating opportunities for women & girls in unconventional, male-dominated spaces. From a series of flag football camps for girls, to the investment and partnership work she’s done with like-minded organizations, to founding her own LLC, Dr. Jen Welter advocates and tirelessly works toward equity inclusion—both on and off the football field.
