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.

Players

This is an incomplete list that may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

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

• Sarah Crispin: Starting Middle Linebacker, Ridley Middle School, PA. Started playing tackle football at the age of 7. U.S. National Football Team hopeful.^[2]
• Sam Gordon: youth football player who achieved global notoriety for her highly skilled play^[3]
• Madeline Kuhl: Played on Durand Jr. High Football team. 1st string Offensive Tackle 7th grade. 1st string Offensive and Defensive Tackle 8th grade. Played on an all male team. Playing high school Football in the 2014 season.
• Guinevere Servis: plays defensive end for Shenendahowa Middle School 8th grade in NY. Started playing in 7th grade. Plays on an all male team.
• Kortney Cooper: Sciotoville Community School in Ohio, started playing Tackle at age 9 years. Started as Lineman to move onto Safety and Wide-Receiver. Plays on all male team. Will start middle school in 2015 season.

High school

• Toni Goins: Wide Receiver & Defensive End. First female football player on a men's Varsity high school team in Jackpot, NV.
• Mercedes Banks: Offense/Defensive Tackle: Had the leading QB sacks for the varsity football team in Athens, MI
• Erin DiMeglio: first female quarterback to see play in Florida high school football history^[4]
• 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.^[5]
• Tonya Fletcher: First female in history to be crowned Homecoming Queen and starting place-kicker for the Cary-Grove Trojans. First female to play Varsity football in the McHenry County. She went on to be a guest on Mandy Moore's MTV Show, Girls Kick Butt in Guys Contact Sports. Soon after that she as featured in the Premiere Issue of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's Magazine. She was asked to be join walk on tryouts as a place-kicker for the Appalachian State University D-I Football Team.
• Sami Grisafe: First female in California to play Quarterback on an all male Varsity Division I High School (Redlands High School) in the year 2001. She went on to start for the WFA's Chicago Force Women's Semi-Pro Tackle football and played for Team USA in the World Championships in 2010 and 2013 garnering Tournament MVP in the latter. She currently holds several world Championship Women's tackle football records.
• Anastasia Hooker: First Female in Indian River County, Florida to score a point or points in a High School Football game. Sebastian River High School Junior Varsity football player Anastasia Hooker made her way into Indian River County history books this week.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 on 11-7-14 by converting a P.A.T. . The 17-year-old Sebastian River 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 .^[6][7]
• Tammy Kaye: She is the first female to play on the varsity football team at Rancocas Valley Regional High School, in Mt. Holly, NJ. Kaye played in seven games during the 1985 season, and was a teammate of the future NFL defensive lineman Alonzo Spellman.
• Mackenzie Lewis: WR for Gonzaga Prep, played in Middle School for Grid Kids.
• 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
• Melissa Olivares: Kicker for the Dubuque Senior High School Varsity Football Team in Dubuque, Iowa.
• Jessica Sandoval: Kicker for the Mission Bay Buccaneers in San Diego California in 2004, Played six games after beating out the current kicker in a kickoff. Forced to quit under threat of losing her soccer scholarship.
• Jessica Schultz: In 1998, became first female in the state of Tennessee to score a rushing touchdown in a male varsity football game.
• 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.^[8]
• Kaitlyn Reeves: Riverview's first female to play on the high school varsity team

College

• Ashley Baker: Former college football placekicker at Framingham State University^[9]
• KaLena "Beanie" Barnes: Former punter, and first woman to play on a top ten ranked Division I-A team, for the University of Nebraska.^[10]
• Tonya Butler: First woman to score a field goal in an NCAA game^[11][12]
• Hillary Carter: Former college football placekicker at Earlham College^[9]
• Liz Heaston: First woman to play and score in a college football game^[13]
• Katie Hnida: First woman to score in a Division I-A bowl game^[14]
• Ashley Martin: First woman to score in a NCAA game^[15]
• Joyce Mungari: Former college linebacker and special teams player at Monterey Peninsula and Contra Costa Junior Colleges^[16]
• Brittany Ryan: Former college football placekicker at Lebanon Valley College and current scoring leader among women in the NCAA^[17]
• 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.^[18]

Semi-Professional

• Patricia Palinkas: First woman to play professional football (1970)^[19]
• Katie Hnida: First woman to play professional indoor football in a non-women's league (1999-2004)
• Julie Harshbarger: First woman to make a successful field goal in a professional indoor football game (2010-2014)^[20]
• Lauren Silberman: First woman to try out at the NFL Regional Scouting Combine (2013)^[21][22]
• Jennifer Welter: first woman to play a non-kicking position in a professional football league made up predominately by men. (2014)^[23]

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.
• Carole Duffy: Running back, Pittsburgh Powderkegs (1969-1971). Third of four women inducted into the American Football Association Hall of Fame.^[24]
• 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.^[25]
• Linda Jefferson: Running back, Toledo Troopers (1972-1979). One of only four women inducted into the American Football Association Hall of Fame.^[26] 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.^[27]
• Anita Marks: Quarterback, Miami Fury (2000-2002), Florida Stingrays (2003). Television and radio sports reporter/commentator.^[28]
• 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).^[29]
• Barbara Patton: Linebacker, Los Angeles Dandelions (1973-1975). Mother of NFL linebacker Marvcus Patton.^[30]
• 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.
• Lei'D Tapa: Linebacker, Carolina Queens (4 seasons). 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).^[31]
• 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. Holds WFA record for most touchdowns in one game (8 vs D.C. Divas on May 18, 2013).

Players in non-traditional ("bikini" or "lingerie") tackle football leagues

• Trishelle Cannatella: Former New York Euphoria player in 2006; Playboy model and current actress
• Angie Everhart: Captain of Team Euphoria in 2004; actress and fashion model
• Krista Ford: Former captain of the Toronto Triumph in 2011 and 2012; daughter and niece of two prominent Toronto politicians
• Joy Giovanni: Former Lingerie Bowl player in 2004 and 2005; actress
• Liz Gorman: Running back/safety for the Tampa Breeze and Los Angeles Temptation since 2009
• Christy Hemme: Former Lingerie Bowl player in 2006; professional wrestler, model, and singer
• Jen Johnson: Former New York Euphoria player in 2006; television actress who appeared on Big Brother 8
• Vilayna LaSalle: Former New York Euphoria player in 2006; actress and model
• Danielle Moinet: Chicago Bliss cornerback from 2009-2011; model and professional wrestler
• Angela Rypien: Quarterback in the Lingerie Football League for the Baltimore Charm in 2013; daughter of Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien^[32]
• Cora Skinner: Former Los Angeles Temptation player in 2006; actress and model
• Tamara Witmer: Former Los Angeles Temptation player in 2005; model, actress, and reality television actress
• Nikki Ziering: Captain of Team Dream in 2004; model

Other roles

As a supplement to the list, women involved in American football as prominent officials, coaches, sportscasters, and other significant roles are included after the list.

Officials

• Sarah Thomas: College football and United Football League official^[33]
• Shannon Eastin: National Football League official^[34]

Coaches

• Jennifer Stango: First Female High School Football Coach in State of Connecticut(2012)^[35]

Commentators

• Erin Andrews: FOX Sports reporter for NFL^[36]
• Jane Chastain: First woman to provide color commentary for a National Football League game
• Robin Roberts: ESPN commentator and reporter
• Gayle Sierens: First, and to date only, woman to call play-by-play for a National Football League game
• Pam Ward: First, and to date only, 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^[37]
• 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^[38]
• Georgia Frontiere: Former owner of the St. Louis Rams^[39]
• Virginia Halas McCaskey: Current owner of the Chicago Bears^[40]
• 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^[41]

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
• Lucy Draper, placekicker fictional Texas State Armadillos: played by Kathy Ireland in the 1991 film Necessary Roughness
• 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.

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