Dr. Jen Welter

NFL’s First Female Coach | Speaker | GrrridIron Girls Founder | First Female Coach in Madden | First Female Running Back in Men’s Pro Football | Author | Motion and Emotion Pioneer

Dr. Jen Welter is a groundbreaking, barrier-busting force of nature. She is a female trailblazer, a sports pioneer, PhD, passionate leader, world-renowned speaker, entrepreneur and source of inspiration around the globe. Her relentless pursuit of individual excellence and success in challenging the status quo time and time again, fuels her current drive to help others achieve their best—in sports, health and wellness, professional pursuits and in life.

She is driven by the belief that “Greatness is a choice you make over and over. And when you choose personal greatness—big or small—it becomes a part of who you are.” In every realm she tackles, Dr. Jen is a game changer, bringing vision, power and purpose to her mission of breaking the chains of what has always been and redefining what is and will be.

She tackled her football career with fearless tenacity and an unprecedented track record of pioneering firsts. Building on her remarkable career in women’s football, that included 2 Gold medals with Team USA, 4 World Championships and 8 All-Star selections, Dr. Jen busted into the men’s game, as the first female running back signed to a men’s professional team. Blending her passion for the game with a powerful, unique communication style, she broke through the biggest boys club of all, the NFL, as the first female coach in the league and the Madden NFL 20 video game. In order to share her journey into a playbook for overall success, coach Jen published “Play Big, Lessons in Living Limitless from the First Woman to Coach in the NFL.”

Though Play Big came out in 2017, Dr Jen’s next book will surely be about playing even bigger, kicking glass, and recovering from the challenges along the way because she has done everything from being the Head Coach of the first Australian Women’s National Team, to coaching being the assistant Defensive Line coach for the Atlanta Legends of the Alliance of American Football, to being the Linebackers coach for the Vegas Vipers of the XFL.

Not content to stop there, Dr. Jen’s belief in the power of sport to transform society inspired her to create sustainable platforms and inclusive programs to help women become leaders, give girls access and empower kids to overcome challenges through physical, emotional and social well being. Coach Jen has dedicated her career to making the game of football more inclusive, Coach Jen has designed A Day in the Life, the ultimate fan fantasy experience for women, and She founded Grrridiron Girls, the first national movement for girls in flag football. Teaching confidence through football.

She has been honored and quoted by President Obama as a female pioneer and role model. She has coached everyone from kids in sports camps to C-level executives, on how finding your voice and having fearless conversations can fuel positive change.

Bringing her innovative spirit into everything she does, Coach Jen shattered the boundary between beauty and football with her kick[gl]ass nailpolish, the number 3 all-time nailpolish launch in Ulta history. In the spirit of defying stereotypes, Barbie, also working with Coach Jen for the launch of the Women in Sports Collection, including Coach Barbie. Who would have thought a woman could be both a coach in Madden and a Barbie.

When the Coronavirus pandemic hit, she teamed with Creative Director and Founder of Jayne Agency, Brooke Foley to create the Critter Fitter book series, the world’s first social, emotional and physical wellness series for young kids. Covering themes ranging from social distancing and mask wearing to resilience and wellness through movement, Critter Fitter offers a holistic platform for parents and children to solve a range of complex problems, giving youth a voice through conversations, tools and experiences.

Dr. Jen’s message of overcoming life’s obstacles with grit, tenacity and limitless possibility has received worldwide acclaim, by audiences ranging from global companies and top schools to brands, nonprofits and professional sports teamsil.