'I've known Cam a number of years and I don't think that comment in any way is indicative of the man he is'
Thursday 19 October 2017 16:49, UK
Women's sport, moreover sport in general, is full of successful females blazing a trail for future generations.
One look at the Sportswomen of the Year nominees - which you can watch live on Sky Sports Main Event and Mix from 8pm, Thursday, October 26 - and it's apparent.
Tammy Beaumont, part of England's 2017 Women's World Cup winning cricket team, victorious in front of a packed-out Lord's. Jodie Taylor, the first Englishwoman to win the Golden Boot Award after top-scoring at the Euro 2017 finals, where the team reached the semi-finals. And talking of semi-finalists - Johanna Konta, the first British female to reach that stage at Wimbledon in 39 years.
But the list is not limited to those names, nor is such success specific to this country. Over in the United States, and the NFL, Jen Welter is a first.
In joining the Arizona Cardinals as an assistant coaching intern in 2015, she became the first female coach in the history of the league.
"It had a lot to do with Sarah Thomas, the first full-time female ref in NFL history," Welter explains, in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports. "After Sarah was announced, at a press conference, Bruce Arians was asked if he could ever see a female coaching in the NFL.
"Bruce's response was simply, the second a woman can make these guys better in the NFL she will be hired."
Welter is far from one to shirk a challenge, having played women's football first for 14 years, while in the prior 18 months she had joined Champions Indoor Football's Texas Revolution firstly as a running back, and then as their linebackers and special teams coach - another first, the first woman to coach in a men's professional league. She took Arians at his word.
"I called the Cardinals and charmed my way through to Bruce's PA and said, 'I think this is a call that Bruce would really want to take'.
"He called my head coach back a few weeks later and said 'tell me about this girl' before eventually inviting me out with the Cardinals.
"We hit it off - the thing I love about Bruce, and hopefully you will get to see some of his charm while he's in London with the team this week, is he is a guy that will absolutely tell you exactly how things are."
While Welter's hiring would hint to progress, two weeks ago came a setback. Carolina Panthers quarterback, and 2015 league MVP, Cam Newton made headlines in the NFL, though not with his fancy footwork or arm strength, but with his mouth.
Newton, answering a question posed by Jourdan Rodrigue, a reporter with the Charlotte Observer, said: "It's funny to hear a female talk about routes. It's funny." He was subsequently labelled a sexist, and dropped by sponsor Dannon as controversy swirled.
But, according to Welter, it's not the Newton, nor the welcoming world of the NFL, she knows.
"I've known Cam a number of years and I don't think that comment in any way is indicative of the man he is," she says. "Let's just reverse out of it logically for one second. How many times has Cam been interviewed by women over the course of his career? Thousands, right? And nothing like that has ever happened.
"He said a wrong thing. But, personally, I can speak to the fact that he has been a huge supporter of me.
"The biggest question I got when I went into Arizona was would the players take coaching from a woman? You could hear the narrative in all of the media coverage. But the great thing is that we proved without a doubt that the answer was yes because those players were phenomenal.
"They were not only welcoming, but they were interested and excited and they knew everything about me before I even walked into the door."
None more so than veteran Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
"They really don't make them any better than Larry," adds Welter. "Both on the field, as a professional, and in life as a person.
"There were many days where he'd just say 'coach Jen, come talk to me' as he was catching extra balls - he normally catches 100 or so after every practice.
"It wasn't always about football. He just has a very curious mind."
Welter is hopeful Fitzgerald has a bit part to play as Arizona face the Los Angeles Rams in the third International Series game of 2017 at Twickenham on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
The arrival of fellow veteran, and future Hall of Fame running back, Adrian Peterson via a trade from the New Orleans Saints certainly improves the Cardinals' chances of victory - he rushed for 134 yards and two TDs on debut in the Week Six win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"I think with the pick-up of Peterson, the Cardinals have some good energy behind them," adds Welter. "It looks like their offense is revitalised and it'll be good to see them carry it overseas.
"I expect them to use a lot of play action and get the Rams defence to commit to shutting down Peterson and then that will open up the passing game for Larry."
Welter talks a good game, and is now using that knowledge in working with Floréal Sports - a company with the ambition to help young people develop through sports through the coaching of retired athletes.
Welter sees such programs as being the key to more women like her forging successful career in the NFL, or sport in general.
"We need to continue to build the connections between men and women in the game," says Welter. "It's a very different thing to know of somebody, than to know them on the field, in sport, seeing their work ethic.
"There are some tremendous women who I have played with and against who could obviously take steps forward into professional football but it's really hard to do that when you don't have those personal connections.
"We need to continue to have integration of coaching opportunities and clinics where men and women are working together, building those relationships."
Then, Welter won't just be 'the first', but the first of many.
Watch the Los Angeles Rams take on the Arizona Cardinals at Twickenham, live on Sky Sports Action (407) from 5.15pm on Sunday.
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