List of female American football players

The following is a list of notable female American football players that have either played for predominantly men's American football teams at the youth, high school, college, or semi-professional levels, played in the Legends Football League, or played in traditional women's tackle football leagues such as the Women's Football Alliance, Independent Women's Football League, and Women's Spring Football League. Notable women who presently play or have previously played American football are included on this list.

Female football players

In predominantly men's leagues

Almost all of the women who have played on predominantly male college and professional football teams have done so by playing either the placekicker or holder positions.^[1] Both positions are usually protected from the full contact present in American football.

Youth

Jenny Kuplinski: North Pocono Midget Football . Most improved player. Offensive Tackle

Keilah Horwood: Canadian, plays for Airdrie storm. Strong side Corner and Safety. started playing in Atom football. Winner of City of Calgary and area, Alberta Tier 2 Championship 2016. Alberta Provincial Tier 2 Champions 2016

• Maddie Kuhl: Played offensive and defensive tackle for the Durand Bulldogs in Illinois. Played 7th grade through 8th grade for the jr. high team. (2012-2013)

Jemma Coupland: Canadian, plays for Airdrie Storm. Starting Offensive Guard. Started playing at peewee level. Winner of City of Calgary and area, Alberta Tier 2 championship 2016. Alberta Provincial Tier 2 Champions 2016

• Noela Moreno: Guymon (Oklahoma) Central High School, right guard. Started playing her sophomore year.
• Sarah Crispin: Starting Middle Linebacker, Ridley Middle School, Pennsylvania. Started playing tackle football at the age of 7. U.S. national football team hopeful.^[2]
• Mandy Davis: Starting running back and middle linebacker, Pleasant Grove Middle School, Alabama. Started playing in 7th grade for the first time.^[3]
• Sam Gordon: Running back, Salt Lake City. Her play in a youth football league^[4] led to her becoming the first female football player featured on a Wheaties box.^[5]
• Marianna Neau: Starting wide receiver, Fairplay Middle School, Georgia. Started playing at her 8th grade year for the first time.
• Julia Gyles: Starting middle linebacker, Leominster Blue Devils, Massachusetts. Started at the age of 6.
• Angelica Richards: Starting offensive tackle, Austin Road Middle School, Georgia. Started playing 7th grade for the first time.^[6]
• Hope Ward: First female and female placekicker to play in the Catholic Youth Sports League in Pensacola, Florida. She started playing in her 7th grade year.
• Sonia Robles:Starting cornerback and safety, second string wide receiver, and starting kickoff. Austin Academy of Excellence, Tx. Started playing in the 8th grade for the first time.
• Amy Jo Harlow: Dundee, Michigan; Dundee Community Schools. 1988–1989 Started in 8th grade and was voted Tri-Captain. Starting position Tackle and Guard, also on kick and kick return special teams. First girl on record for the state of Michigan on an all-male team.
• Abigail Brown: Quarterback, safety, kick and kick return special teams. Central Heights Middle School, 2014–2016. Starting quarterback 7th and 8th grade years.
• Ciera Collier: Wyandot Middle School, Clinton Twp Michigan. Played Tight end, linebacker, defensive end, running back, and cornerback. Played her 7th and 8th grade years
• Nicole Beamon: Reisterstown Mustangs, Reisterstown, Maryland. Started as offensive guard for 9-11 team in 2015. Playing her second year as starting offensive guard and second string middle linebacker on the 12U team.
• Courtney Padgett: Placekicker and punter, safety played for 7th and 8th Poplar Bluff Missouri Jr High Mules. Started playing in 6 grade year. first girl on on any Poplar Bluff all male football team.

High school

• Brooke Liebsch: Brooke started playing on all boys teams in 2009. First female quarterback for Liberty North High School in Liberty Missouri. First female to make it to the U.S. National Development Games Arlington Virginia July 2017.^[7]
• Wanda Ballou: First girl in Ohio to play boy's high school football. She was a wide receiver and Safety.^[8]
• Erin DiMeglio: first female quarterback to see play in Florida high school football history^[9]
• Theresa Dion: First female to play on a boys high school varsity team in the U.S. when she played for Immaculate High School in Key West, in 1972, as a placekicker.^[10]
• Anastasia Hooker: First female in Indian River County, Florida to score a point or points in a High School Football game. During the Sharks JV team's October 9, 2014 game, Anastasia, No. 9, kicked a 24-yard field goal on her first attempt. She also was the 1st to score a varsity point by converting a PAT. The 17-year-old junior was named "Offensive Player of the Year" as a Freshman on the school's Varsity soccer team and plays travel soccer for the Brevard Soccer Alliance U-18 State Cup team.^[11]
• Renée Housseal: First female football player in Pennsylvania and the first female player at York Vocational Technical School in York, Pennsylvania. Also joined on the team by Valerie Fryberger. She graduated in 1994 after 2 years as part of the prep football team coached by Darryl Markley.
• Trevion Borders: First female to play freshman football for Klein Oak high School in Houston, Texas.^[12]
• Brooke Liebsch: Liberty North High School's first female quarterback in 2015.^[13]
• Tami Maida: Junior varsity quarterback at Philomath High School in Philomath, Oregon. In 1981, she became the first known quarterback to also become homecoming princess, and her story was the basis of the CBS movie Quarterback Princess starring Helen Hunt as Maida.
• Holley Mangold: Played high school football as an offensive lineman; younger sister of NFL offensive lineman Nick Mangold. She also competed as a weightlifter in the 2012 Summer Olympics
• Maya Ochoa: Freshman wide receiver and safety at Creekview High School in Carrollton, Texas.^[14]
• Evonnie Ramos: first Sophomore female to play JV football as a Left guard and special teams in Fort Stockton, Texas (Pecos County) 2015.^[15]
• Lyssa St. Cyr: Female freshman lineman for Frazier Mountain High School, first girl in the school to finish a season of football, on a varsity team. She can play almost all the lineman positions for offense and defense. 2015 season as a freshman, currently playing football still. Finished sophomore year of football varsity.
• Kathleen Trumbo: First female in the nation to start and earn a varsity letter as a noseguard on the boy's varsity football team (full tackle). Also played left guard on offense. Corydon Central High School, 1989, Corydon, Indiana.
• Luverne "Toad" Wise: Kicker for the Atmore (now Escambia County) Alabama High School Blue Devils in 1939 and 1940, first female to score in an American football game.^[16]
• Anna Zerilli: First female freshman to ever score points at the varsity level in American history. First female kicker ever in Cape Ann History. Currently kicking for Manchester Essex High School, Massachusetts. (2015) Cape Ann Kicking Academy found this information.
• Mackenzie Lewis: First ever female to play in a varsity American football game for Gonzaga Prep, playing as a WR.
• Destiny Bulgajewski first ever female to play for Suffield High school Suffield,CT. Playing as defensive lineman, offensive lineman, and defensive linebacker.
• Grace Wiley: First ever female to play for Lakeridge High school, a 6A level school, in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Playing as cornerback her first year as a sophomore. (2016)
• Cydney Pralle: First female to dress varsity for Battle Lake High School, on the OTC Football Team, a 6AA Level team split between Battle Lake and Henning, Minnesota. Started her Junior year as a lineman- currently playing as a defensive tackle. Aspires to be starting quarterback throughout 2017 Highschool football season. (2016)
• Shannon Jiu: Freshman placekicker at Rancho Bernardo High School in San Diego, California (2016)
• Madeline Kuhl: Played offensive tackle and defensive guard freshman and sophomore year for the Durand Bulldogs in Durand, Illinois. One of the captains her sophomore year. Kicked for the bulldogs her junior year, and was overall 2-4 for the season. (2014-Present)

College

• Ashley Baker: Former college football placekicker at Framingham State University^[17]
• KaLena "Beanie" Barnes: Former punter, and first woman to play on a top ten ranked Division I-A team, for the University of Nebraska.^[18]
• Tonya Butler: First woman to score a field goal in an NCAA game^[19][20]
• Hillary Carter: Former college football placekicker at Earlham College^[17]
• Liz Heaston: First woman to play and score in a college football game^[21]
• Katie Hnida: First woman to score in a Division I-A bowl game^[22]
• Ashley Martin: First woman to score in a NCAA game^[23]
• Joyce Mungari: Former college linebacker and special teams player at Monterey Peninsula and Contra Costa Junior Colleges^[24]
• Shelby Osborne: Stands to become the first female to play a non-kicking position at a four-year college after signing in summer 2014 to play cornerback at Campbellsville University, an NAIA school.^[25]
• Brittany Ryan: Former college football placekicker at Lebanon Valley College and current scoring leader among women in the NCAA^[26]
• April Goss: Former college football placekicker at Kent State University

Semi-professional

• Abby Vestal: First woman to score points in a men's professional football game (2007) for the Kansas Koyotes of the indoor American Professional Football League with her three PAT's on April 23.
• Julie Harshbarger: First woman to make a successful field goal in a professional indoor football game (2010–present)^[27]
• Katie Hnida: First woman to play professional indoor football in a non-women's league (1999–2004).
• Patricia Palinkas: First woman to play professional football (1970)^[28]
• Lauren Silberman: First woman to try out at the NFL Regional Scouting Combine (2013)^[29][30]
• Jennifer Welter: first woman to play a non-kicking position in a professional football league made up predominately by men. (2014)^[31]

In predominantly women's leagues

Players in traditional ("full pads") tackle football leagues

• Mana Alison: Wide receiver, Carolina Phoenix (2014–present), California Quake (2012–2013). Played for Team Sweden at the 2013 IFAF Women's World Championship.
• Linda Caruso: Linebacker, Mass Mutiny (2002–2007). Contestant on ABC's The Benefactor.
• Carole Duffy: Running back, Pittsburgh Powderkegs (1969–1971). Third of four women inducted into the American Football Association Hall of Fame.^[32]
• Sami Grisafe: Quarterback, Chicago Force (2007–present). 2013 WFA National Champion and game MVP. Two-time gold medalist for Team USA in the 2010 and 2013 IFAF Women's World Championship.
• Rae Hodge: Kicker/wide receiver, Pittsburgh Powderkegs (1971). One of the first two women inducted into the American Football Association Hall of Fame.^[32]
• Linda Jefferson: Running back, Toledo Troopers (1972–1979). One of only four women inducted into the American Football Association Hall of Fame.^[32] Named the 1975 Athlete of the Year by womenSports, the first magazine dedicated exclusively to covering women in sports. Seven-time national champion (WPFL, NWFL); posted five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons rushing.^[33]
• Anita Marks: Quarterback, Miami Fury (2000–2002), Florida Stingrays (2003). Television and radio sports reporter/commentator.^[34]
• Yekaterina Pashkevich: Running back, New Hampshire Freedom (2002–2006) and Boston Rampage (2007). A charter member of Russia's first women's national hockey team. Olympian for Russian Federation women's hockey team (2002, 2006, 2014).^[35]
• Barbara Patton: Linebacker, Los Angeles Dandelions (1973–1975). Mother of NFL linebacker Marvcus Patton.^[36]
• Natalie Randolph: Wide receiver, DC Divas (2004–2008). Became third ever female head coach a boys' high school football team in 2010. Recipient of the Women of Distinction Award from the American Association of University Women in 2011.
• Sarah Schkeeper: Offensive guard, New York Sharks (2009–present). Gold medalist for Team USA 2013 IFAF Women's World Championship.
• Jenny Schmidt: Quarterback, Kansas City Tribe. 2009 IWFL World Champion. Gold medalist for Team USA 2010 IFAF Women's World Championship.
• Erin Sheriff: Defensive back/punter, Iowa Crush (2007–2010). Gold medalist for Team USA 2010 IFAF Women's World Championship.
• Josie Smith-Malave: Defensive line, New York Sharks (2001–2002). Contestant on Top Chef Season 2 and Season 10.
• Lei'D Tapa: Linebacker, Carolina Queens (2007–2009). Professional wrestler and model.
• Donna Wilkinson: Running back/tight end, D.C. Divas (2001–present), Los Angeles Amazons (2000). In 2003, became first woman in modern era to rush for over 1,000 yards in an eight-game regular season. Two-time gold medalist for Team USA (2010, 2013).^[37]
• Alissa Wykes: Running back, Philadelphia Liberty Belles. National Women's Football Association MVP in 2001. Came out as a lesbian in December/January 2002 edition of Sports Illustrated for Women.
• Whitney Zelee: Running back, Boston Militia) (2011–present). Two-time WFA National Champion and game MVP (2011, 2014). WFA National Conference MVP in 2013. In 2013, eclipsed the 2,000-yard benchmark and set a new record of 2,128 rushing yards over an eight-game season.^[38] Holds WFA record for most touchdowns in one game (8 vs D.C. Divas on May 18, 2013).

Other notable women in football

Coaches

• Kathryn Smith: first full-time female NFL coach
• Jennifer Stango: First Female High School Football Coach in State of Connecticut(2012)^[39]
• Jennifer Welter: First female assistant coach in the National Football League (2015)^[40]

Commentators

• Erin Andrews: FOX Sports reporter for NFL^[41]
• Jane Chastain: First woman to provide color commentary for a National Football League game
• Robin Roberts: ESPN commentator and reporter
• Beth Mowins: ESPN college football play-by-play announcer
• Gayle Sierens: First, and to date only, woman to call play-by-play for a National Football League game
• Pam Ward: First woman to call play-by-play for a nationally televised college football game

Front office staff

• Connie (Nicholas) Carberg: First female scout in professional football history, with the New York Jets.
• Linda Wilson Bogdan (1948–2009): Daughter of Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson, second female scout in professional football
• Darlene Jones: Commissioner of the Lone Star Football League
• Jo-Anne Polak: Former general manager of the Ottawa Rough Riders; first female executive in Canadian Football League history^[42]
• Amy Trask: Chief executive officer of the Oakland Raiders

Owners

On a per capita basis, women have somewhat greater representation in professional football's ownership than in other fields; this is in part due to widows and daughters of deceased owners receiving NFL teams as part of an inheritance.

• Violet Bidwill Wolfner: Former owner of Chicago Cardinals, first female NFL owner in league history
• Carol Davis: Current co-owner of the Oakland Raiders^[43]
• Georgia Frontiere: Former owner of the St. Louis Rams^[44]
• Virginia Halas McCaskey: Current owner of the Chicago Bears^[45]
• Sharon Hunt Munson: Current co-owner of the Kansas City Chiefs
• Linda McMahon: Part-owner of the XFL
• Kim Pegula: Pending majority owner of the Buffalo Bills
• Mary McLean Wilson: Current controlling owner of the trust that owns the Buffalo Bills
• Denise DeBartolo York: Current co-owner of the San Francisco 49ers^[46]
• Martha Firestone Ford: Current owner of the Detroit Lions

Referees

• Sarah Thomas: First permanent game official in professional football (UFL 2009, NFL 2015)
• Shannon Eastin: First woman to officiate an NFL game (2012)

Fictional

As an additional supplement to the list, noteworthy fictional appearances of women in football are provided.

• Shannon Beiste, head football coach fictional McKinley High School: played by Dot-Marie Jones on the television series Glee
• Bella Dawson, quarterback fictional West Silverado Middle School Bulldogs: played by Brec Bassinger in the television series Bella and the Bulldogs
• Lucy Draper, placekicker fictional Texas State Armadillos: played by Kathy Ireland in the 1991 film Necessary Roughness
• Dizzy Flores, quarterback in SciFi movie Starship Troopers: played by Dina Meyer
• Molly McGrath, head football coach fictional Prescott High School Wildcats: played by Goldie Hawn in the 1986 film Wildcats
• Christina Pagniacci, owner fictional Miami Sharks: played by Cameron Diaz in the 1999 film Any Given Sunday
• Doris Sherman, owner of fictional Orlando Breakers: played by Katherine Helmond on the television series Coach.
• Becky "Icebox" O'Shea, main character in comedy film "Little Giants": played by Shawna Waldron
• Tami Maida, high school quarterback, played by Helen Hunt in the movie "Quarterback Princess" (1983)

See also

• Women's American football

References

External links

• Independent Women's Football League official website
• Women's Football Alliance official website
• Women's Spring Football League official website
• Lingerie Football League official website