Arizona Cardinals hire Jen Welter to coach their inside linebackers

Jen Welter is to make history as the first female coach in the NFL when she takes up an intern position with the Arizona Cardinals.

The Cardinals announced on Monday that Welter will work for them during training camp and pre-season, coaching the team’s inside linebackers.

A former collegiate rugby player who played 14 seasons of professional gridiron, Welter was the first female to play a non-kicking position in a men's pro football league when she was a running back and played on special teams for the Indoor Football League's Texas Revolution in 2014.

She holds a master's degree in sport psychology and worked as an assistant coach for the Revolution this year.

Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians told the team’s website: “Coaching is nothing more than teaching.

"One thing I have learned from players is, 'How are you going to make me better? I don't care if you're the Green Hornet, man, I'll listen’.

"I really believe she'll have a great opportunity with this internship through training camp to open some doors for her.”

After meeting Welter, Arians said: "I thought she was the type of person that could handle this in a very positive way for women and open that door."

Arians added that he had spoken to players on the Cardinals about Welter's hiring and "they were all very cool with it. It's not going to be a distraction in any way”.