Jen Welter has been playing in the woman’s professional football league for nine years.
“It’s not something forced,” said Dallas athlete Jen Welter. “It’s not for huge money. It’s the belief and the ideal that women can play football and that they should be able to. If no guys weren’t willing to play football before it was huge dollar contracts then the NFL wouldn’t be where it is today. I look at what I’m doing now as similar to that.”
As a five foot two all-pro linebacker and safety for the Dallas Diamonds Welter continues to prove that women can play football. She’s played in five world championship games, won four world championship titles and has been selected all-pro five times.
“If you mess with anybody on my team you’re an outsider,” said Welter. “The thing I love about football for them is that no matter what your body type is you can see how you could be great on a football team. I tell girls I could never be a receiver because they’re better when they’re tall so that wouldn’t be a great position for me. I tell them I’m not strong enough to play on the line so that wouldn’t be a great position for me but being quick and having good leverage makes me a good linebacker.”
Welter is proud to be a part of a group of women playing to increase the opportunities of women in sports and football in the future. She often does speaking engagements at schools where she teaches young women that unlike many other sports football has something to offer for all shapes and sizes.
“If you’re not skinny or supermodel tall there’s something great for you out there,” said Welter. “I think that’s important because girls don’t get enough of that.”
Welter desired to be a pro tennis player growing up but when her coach told her she was wasting her time because she was too small she let go of that dream and move on. She played four years of Rugby at Boston College. That’s where she learned to take girls down.
“I just want to hit people,” said Welter.
Being fast, explosive and stopping anyone other than a Diamond are just a few things that Welter is known for.
“If I were to have anyone describe me as an athlete I would hope they would say I was a high impact athlete,” said Welter. “When I’m on the field I’m going to make an impact. You’ll know I was there and the other team probably won’t like me and I’m okay with that.”
Welter is also high impact off the field. She’s involved in several charities including the Beauty Never Fades Tour with Susan G. Komen. She has her Master’s degree to sports psychology and is working on her PhD. She’s a keynote speak and a personal trainer.
“ff I can take the fact that I play football and be able to have a positive impact then I’m blessed,” said Welter.
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September 10th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
I love this story! It’s wonderful to read about a professional female athlete who is also intelligent, successful, and dedicated to helping her community. The city of Dallas and the Dallas Diamonds are lucky to have Jen on their team!
September 10th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Great story! Good job, Welter. Way to represent and make an impact. :)
September 10th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
What a great story Lindsey! I really liked your writing, it really made the story flow!! Good job!!
September 10th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Thanks to everyone at DFWreporting.com for your hard work. I really appreciate it. Also, thanks for all the love from friends and family about the story.
For those of you I don’t know yet, feel free to drop me an email at welter47@gmail.com!
Make an impact!
Jen Welter
September 10th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
What a great role model for all of our little girls to see! Great job Welter! You definitely are making an impact.
September 10th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
That is an awesome story and on a very talented,hard hitting, cool and beautful inside and out, warm human being. All the best Jen keep lay ‘em out Again a great story. God Bless
Stay Safe
Michael
September 11th, 2009 at 8:05 am
Great Story and glad to see someone with enthusiam who loves the game as much as i do. Even with you accolades you stay humble and put team first and thats the right attitude to have. My coach says you might be coming out to meet my team sometime and hopefully some of our players will take some things from you A PROVEN WINNER and be able to apply it. I pray you have continued success.
MAVERICK FOOTBALL CLUB
September 11th, 2009 at 10:43 am
A well done story about an awesome individual. I have seen Jen play a few times and let me tell you people…she does bring it. Not some of the time…all of the time…definitely high impact.
If these current Dallas Cowboys approached the game with her same commitment,attitude, aggressiveness and humbleness, then maybe they could boast of winning 4 Championship as well.
Go#47!!!!!
September 11th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Jen plays and lives with intensity in all she does. She is the reason I am playing at 43! It is an honor to take the field with her!! And, it is more of an honor to have her as a friend.
September 11th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
What a great story! Jen, you do impact people both on and off the field. I feel blessed to have gotten to know you. Keep it up sister!!
September 13th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Rock on Jen…I have seen this woman on the field. She is always all over the action!
September 14th, 2009 at 11:07 am
She is my beautiful god child and everything she has always done she has done with her whole heart. She is my hero.
September 14th, 2009 at 11:53 am
WOW!!!!! Jen,
What can I say that was a Great Article on you. You are so AWESOME!!!!!
That is why I like to hang out with you. You go Girl.
Not only are you good on the field, but you are a good person when it comes to community work. It’s a Great Pleasure meeting and being associated with suc a person as you Jen.
May God Bless you and Congradulations!!!!!!
V.D.
September 14th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
To know Jen is already understanding she an amazing success story with all her accomplishments …but the Jen -the person- has a kind and generous beautiful heart bigger than anyone I know… and that is the balance to this AWESOME! girl… Thanks Jen for being out there and making an excellent example for younger (and us older) girls to know there are NO LIMITS and lots of balance that makes a complete package! God bless you!!!
September 14th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
I really enjoyed seeing Jen Welter get some press because that is a small step for all female football players and football athletes. It’s also another positive role model to show girls growing up that they can do whatever they want to do.
Michelle Marcus
St. Louis SLAM Assistant General Manager
September 14th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
I have been going to Jen’s boot camp classes for years. She is a great leader and has shown me just how much I am capable of. I am happy to see such a strong role model for girls and women–so important with so many negative and inappropriate images out there. Oh yea, and she’s a heck of a football player too!
September 15th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
As a lifetime female pro athlete, I know the challenges women face. At one point in my career (as a cliff diver) I was in the top 5 in the world, even competing against the men, yet was not allowed to compete, only do exhibition. I moved to a new sport (rockcrawling), and found myself up against men again, but this time, I’m allowed to compete yet STILL face plenty of hurdles. Luckily for me, because I am a woman competing against men, I get plenty of promotion. My colleagues in women’s-specific-sports are not nearly as lucky. All of that talent, yet not many people know who they are as they live in the shadow of men’s sports.
This story makes me proud of Jen and those ladies that are pushing back and finding their spotlight!
THANKS for doing this great story.
Becca Webster
Red Bull Pro Athlete
September 17th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Great job Lindsey! I do my best to cover the news of Women’s football at dfwfootball.net. With all the semi-pro and women’s football that is in the DFW area, there are more of these stories out there.
September 22nd, 2009 at 2:39 am
Great job Jen, from all your friends in Israel.
Zohar
September 22nd, 2009 at 11:01 am
Jen – you are such an inspiration to women everywhere, including me. I absolutely LOVED that story! Congrats, and rock on!!!
September 22nd, 2009 at 11:49 am
Jen, inspirational story. Great Job!
Maybe I could get you involved in our cause.
http://www.gridironheroes.org
We still love the game of football and would not deter anyone from playing.
October 4th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Excellent piece Jen! You truly are an inspiration to women every where! (You’re also reminding me to get my butt back in the gym!). LOL
October 6th, 2009 at 8:27 am
Jen is the “real deal”. . .The whole package. Her outstanding athleticism and iconic face of womens football can only be matched with her humbleness, integrity and big heart. She is a source of inspiration for woman and men alike, a true friend and someone you always want on your team. Rock on Jen!! Love ya!!
November 26th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Разумно написано, но мне кажется, что автор что-то не договаривает :)
December 28th, 2009 at 1:43 am
Ну конечно, жизнь не может быть идеальной :)
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