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Jen Welter's Assistant Coaching Internship Ends, No Longer with Cardinals

Mike Chiari@mikechiariX.com LogoFeatured ColumnistSeptember 3, 2015

Jul 28, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals inside linebackers intern and preseason coach Jen Welter during a press conference at the teams training facility. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

After spending training camp and three preseason games as an assistant coaching intern with the Arizona Cardinals, Jen Welter's stint as a member of the organization has come to an end.

According to Daniel Roberts of Fortune.com, the NFL's first female coach's internship has concluded, and the Cards decided against hiring her for a full-time role.

While Welter is no longer part of Arizona's staff, she had nothing but good things to say about her experience over the past several weeks:

Dr. Jen Welter @jwelter47

I loved every minute w/ my @AZCardinals.Thank you @BruceArians, Steve Keim, Michael Bidwell, the players, & coaches. #birdagme #HOF #history

The 37-year-old Welter, who played and coached in both men's and women's professional and semi-professional football leagues, helped coach the inside linebackers during her run with the Cardinals.

Per Bob Baum of the Associated Press, Cards linebacker Kevin Minter was extremely impressed with how well she adapted to the NFL:

She's a great lady. She's helped a lot and she's a stickler about fundamentals and what not. She knows a lot about making you better as a person, too, with the notes she left on your locker, the words of encouragement from what she sees on film. She was like a real good person to feed off of.

After leaving such a good impression on the Cardinals players, coaches and fans, Welter is excited about potentially getting another opportunity at some point, according to Baum:

I am waiting to see what will happen next and I'm really excited. I consider this a complete win. The biggest question coming in was would guys in the NFL respond to a woman coaching them, and the obvious answer is yes. ... I would love to entertain other teams, an opportunity to stay obviously in the game because it's been a part of me for so long, and that's really exciting to see. I couldn't be more thrilled as to where I am right now because it really did show something to the world.

Since there hasn't been a single negative report regarding Welter's efforts in Arizona, one can only assume that she will get another chance with the Cards or a different organization at some point down the line.

The idea of women playing a major role in men's leagues is picking up steam, as evidenced by the NFL hiring official Sarah Thomas and Becky Hammon coaching the San Antonio Spurs' NBA Summer League team to a title.

Welter acquitted herself well in her first taste of the NFL, and that makes her the front-runner to eventually become the first full-time female coach in league history. 

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