NFL's Rooney Rule for women welcomed by ex-coach Jennifer Welter

Jennifer Welter has welcomed commissioner Roger Goodell’s move to create a version of the Rooney Rule for women, ensuring female candidates are interviewed for executive positions in the NFL.

Goodell made the declaration at the NFL's first ever Women's Summit ahead of Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco last weekend.

Welter, who coached Arizona Cardinals' linebackers during pre-season, believes the measure will ensure talented females have an opportunity to establish a career in American Football.

"They have the most amazing women working in executive roles in the NFL league office," Welter told Tuesday's Sportswomen show on Sky Sports News HQ.

"It's easy to see why Roger Goodell wants to take that a step forward and say 'we need to open up these executive coaching jobs to the most qualified candidates'.

"Often the best man for the job is a woman, so why not?"

In April, line judge Sarah Thomas became the NFL's first female full-time official, while last month Kathryn Smith became the league's first female full-time assistant when the Buffalo Bills appointed her special teams quality control coach.

Welter, who played American Football for a number of Texas-based teams, recounted her own experience of coaching last summer, insisting she did not face the obstacles that many thought she would.

"The biggest pressure going in was would guys in the NFL take coaching from a woman, and what we did was prove that the answer was absolutely yes," she said.

"They established my credibility before I even walked in the door essentially. The guys had all watched my game film, they knew who I was and what I was about as a player, and they were excited.

"There are always more chances for things to develop," she added. "I hope people realise that women know, love and play the game of football."