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{{Short description|none}}
Women's [[gridiron football]], more commonly known as women's [[American football]], women's [[Canadian football]], or simply [[Women's American football|women's football]], is a form of gridiron football (American or Canadian) played by women. Most leagues play by the same rules as their male counterparts, with one exception: women's leagues use a slightly smaller football. Men
primarily play on a [[semi-professional]] or amateur level in the United States. Very few high schools or colleges offer the sport solely for women and girls; however, on occasion, it is permissible for a female player to join an otherwise male team.


{{Main|Women's gridiron football}}<!--Note: When adding players, they must either be RELIABLY sourced, or have a page of their own.-->
Women's involvement in professional football can be traced back to as early as 1926, when the [[Frankford Yellow Jackets]] of the National Football League organized women's games during halftime to entertain the crowds. The following is a list of notable [[female]] [[American football]] players who have played for predominantly men's [[American football]] teams at the youth, high school, [[college football|college]], or semi-professional levels, played in the [[Legends Football League]], or played in women's tackle football leagues such as the [[Women's Football Alliance]], [[Independent Women's Football League]], and [[Women's Spring Football League]].
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}


Women's [[gridiron football]] (including [[American football]] and [[Canadian football]]) is a form of the sport played by women. Most leagues in the United States, such as the [[Women's Football Alliance]], play by rules similar to men's tackle football.<ref>{{Cite web |last=de la Cretaz |first=Britni |date=February 1, 2019 |title=Women Play Football Professionally, Too — The Difference Is They Have To Pay To Do It |url=https://www.bustle.com/p/women-play-football-professionally-too-the-difference-is-they-have-to-pay-to-do-it-15915293 |access-date=2022-05-29 |website=Bustle}}</ref> Although women's [[flag football]] is emerging as a collegiate sport,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wire |first=Coy |date=July 1, 2020 |title="The Future is Female": Women's flag football is newest college sport |work=CNN |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/01/sport/naia-flag-football-teams-up-with-nfl-for-success-spt-intl/index.html |access-date=2022-05-29}}</ref> women playing gridiron football at the college level have historically joined men's teams, often (though not exclusively) as [[placekicker]]s.<ref name=":10" />
Notable women who presently play or have previously played American football are included on this list.


The following is a list of some of the most notable [[female]] [[American football]] players.
==Female football players==
{{dynamic list}}
<!--Note: When adding players, they must either be RELIABLY sourced, or have an page of their own.-->Of the women who have seen action in men's college and pro football, almost all have been in [[special teams]] positions that are [[Roughing the kicker|protected from physical contact]]. The first professional player was a [[Holder (American football)|placekick holder]] (a traditionally trivial position usually occupied by a person who holds another position on the team), while the best known female college football players were all [[placekicker]]s, with all having primarily played [[women's soccer]] prior to [[List of players who have converted from one football code to another|converting]].


== Players in predominantly male football leagues ==
[[Patricia Palinkas]] is on record as being the first female professional football player, having played for the [[Orlando Panthers]] of the [[Atlantic Coast Football League]] in 1970. Palinkas was a placekick holder for her placekicker husband.
* Kristie Elliott - First Canadian woman to play, and to score, in an [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] football game, which she did on September 11, 2021, as a kicker for [[Simon Fraser University]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://the-peak.ca/2021/11/kristie-elliott-becomes-first-woman-in-canada-to-play-and-score-in-a-college-football-game/|title=Kristie Elliott becomes first woman in Canada to play and score in a college football game|date=November 21, 2021|website=The Peak}}</ref><ref>https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/sfu-football-first-canadian-woman-scores-1.6179046</ref>
* [[Julie Harshbarger]] – First woman to score a [[field goal]] in a men's professional football game, as placekicker for the [[Chicago Knights|Chicago Cardinals]] in the CIFL in 2010.<ref name="harshbarger">{{cite web |author=Goodman, Doug |date=June 30, 2010 |title=Hononegah grad Harshbarger makes indoor football history |url=http://www.rrstar.com/carousel/x370835817/Hononegah-grad-Harshbarger-makes-indoor-football-history |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909134643/http://www.rrstar.com/carousel/x370835817/Hononegah-grad-Harshbarger-makes-indoor-football-history |archive-date=September 9, 2012 |access-date=January 4, 2012 |work=RRStar.com |publisher=Rockford Register-Star}}</ref><ref name=":9" /> Harshbarger was named [[2014 Continental Indoor Football League season#Awards|CIFL Special Teams Player of the Year for 2014]], as kicker for the [[Chicago Blitz (indoor football)|Chicago Blitz]], and as the [[2015 American Indoor Football season#Awards|AIF Special Teams Player of the Year for 2015]], after the Blitz changed leagues.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Blackburn |first=Ryan |date=January 26, 2017 |title=BenU alumna, first woman to kick field goal in indoor football going strong |work=Benedictine University |url=https://www.ben.edu/news/2017/alumnusharshbarger.cfm |access-date=2022-05-30}}</ref>
* [[Katie Hnida]] – Placekicker for the [[Fort Wayne FireHawks]] of the [[Continental Indoor Football League|Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)]] in 2010.<ref name=":12">{{Cite journal |date=Autumn 2013 |title=Katie Hnida, American Football NCAA Kicker |url=https://issuu.com/davidrobinson0/docs/barefoot_running_magazine_issue_10_/36 |journal=Barefoot Running Magazine |issue=10 |pages=36 |access-date=2022-05-30 |via=[[Issuu.com]]}}</ref><ref name=":9" /> She played in the first three games of the season, but developed a blood clot in her kicking leg.<ref name=":12" /> Hnida went on to become a kicker for the Colorado Cobras in the Colorado Football Conference, and for the KC Mustangs in the Interstate Football League.<ref name=":12" /> (See also "College players" below.)
* Ella Lord – First woman to play in the [[Atlantic Football League]], playing for the [[UNB Reds]] on September 21, 2024.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20241009002132/https://tj.news/saint-john-south/female-receiver-catches-on-with-atlantic-football-league-reds</ref>
* [[Patricia Palinkas]] – First woman to play [[Professional football (gridiron)|professional football]], debuting on August 15, 1970, as a [[Holder (gridiron football)|holder]] for her placekicker husband on the [[Orlando Panthers]] of the minor-league [[Atlantic Coast Football League]].<ref name=":9" /> She played two games in the preseason but left after Steve Palinkas was injured and cut from the team.<ref name=":13">{{Cite book |last=Grasso |first=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YTUPQ2Zm-dQC |title=Historical Dictionary of Football |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2013 |isbn=9780810878570 |location=United States |pages=431}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=September 4, 1970 |title=Pat's Fame Brings Hang-Up |work=[[St. Petersburg Times]] |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uitSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rHUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5116,2440540&dq=pat+palinkas&hl=en |access-date=2022-05-30 |via=[[Google Newspapers]]}}</ref>
* [[Jasmine Plummer]] – First female [[quarterback]] for a [[Pop Warner Little Scholars|Pop Warner football]] team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kwnkradio.org/celebrating-local-black-icons-a-conversation-with-football-pioneer-jasmine-plummer/|title=Celebrating Local Black Icons: A Conversation with Football Pioneer Jasmine Plummer|date=February 12, 2022}}</ref> At the age of 11 years old, she became the first female quarterback and the first black female athlete to play in the Pop Warner Super Bowl youth football tournament,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biography.com/athletes/jasmine-plummer|title=Jasmine Plummer - Age, Movie & Family|date=July 7, 2020|website=Biography}}</ref> specifically the 56th Annual Pop Warner Super Bowl (Junior Pee Wee division); however, her team, the Harvey Colts, lost in the semifinals.
* Morgan Smith - First female player in the [[Empire Football League]], as placekicker for the [[Glens Falls Greenjackets]] in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Morgan Smith breaks new ground as Greenjackets placekicker|url=https://poststar.com/sports/morgan-smith-breaks-new-ground-as-greenjackets-placekicker/article_66c1944c-f97d-11ec-9a2d-1f56e361e73d.html|website=The Post-Star|date=July 2, 2022 }}</ref>
* Melissa Strother - First female player to score a point in the [[Arena Football League]], which occurred on May 12, 2024, when she made an extra point while playing as kicker for the [[Washington Wolfpack]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.heraldnet.com/sports/wolfpack-make-history-but-fall-34-21-to-west-texas/ | title=Wolfpack make history, but fall 34-21 to West Texas | date=May 13, 2024 }}</ref> Strother had also been with [[Champions Indoor Football]]'s [[Rapid City Marshals]] before joining the AFL along with the rest of that league in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-14 |title=First woman to play in Arena Football League history, part of new Washington Wolfpack team |url=https://www.king5.com/article/sports/football/first-woman-play-arena-football-league-history-new-washington-wolfpack-team/281-aac4ee43-947b-4852-8ba0-9a91287aba5e |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=[[KING-TV]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Maya Turner - First woman to play in a [[U Sports football|U Sports]] regular season football game, which she was on September 23, 2023, as a [[Manitoba Bisons football|Manitoba Bisons]] kicker. She kicked the game winning field goal in overtime for the Bisons in their game against the [[Regina Rams]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maya Turner kicks OT winner after becoming 1st woman to play regular-season U Sports football game |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/university/maya-turner-debut-manitoba-bisons-football-usports-1.6976696 |access-date=2023-09-24|website=CBC News |language=en}}</ref>
* Abby Vestal – First woman to score points in a men's professional football game,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bridson |first=Becky |date=Fall 2013 |title=Missing Abby |url=https://issuu.com/sunflower_publishing/docs/lm13f_web/46 |journal=Lawrence Magazine |pages=46 |access-date=2022-05-30 |via=[[Issuu]]}}</ref> kicking three out of four [[Conversion (gridiron football)|extra points]] on April 23, 2007, for the [[Kansas Koyotes]] of the indoor [[American Professional Football League]], as a high school senior.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Buckner |first=Candace |date=May 9, 2007 |title=Vestal: Football is her love |pages=D1,D7 |work=Kansas City Star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102800586/vestal-football-is-her-love/ |access-date=2022-05-30 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref name=":11">{{cite web |author=Dean, Rick |date=July 14, 2007 |title=Ex-Koyotes kicker gives her side of story |url=http://cjonline.com/stories/071407/loc_184321666.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011224709/http://cjonline.com/stories/071407/loc_184321666.shtml#.Wd6fdRPP2Us |archive-date=2017-10-11 |access-date=October 11, 2017 |website=cjonline }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Kennedy |first1=Kostya |last2=Bechtel |first2=Mark |last3=Cannella |first3=Stephen |date=2007 |title=Faces in the Crowd |url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=s3h&AN=25065289&lang=en-gb&site=eds-live&scope=site |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |volume=106 |issue=21 |pages=40 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2022-05-30 |via=[[EBSCO]]}}</ref> She was replaced with a college kicker after her fourth game.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Buckner |first=Candace |date=July 13, 2007 |title=Teenage girl kicker dumped by pro team |page=D2 |work=The Kansas City Star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102800808/teenage-girl-kicker-dumped-by-pro-team/ |access-date=2022-05-30 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref name=":11" /> Vestal went on to play women's tackle football for the [[Kansas City Storm]].<ref name=":9" />
* [[Jennifer Welter]] – First woman to play in a non-kicking or [[skill position]] in a men's professional football league, as running back for the [[Texas Revolution (indoor football)|Texas Revolution]] of the [[Indoor Football League]] in 2014.<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{cite web |date=February 17, 2014 |title=Running Back Jennifer Welter Makes History By Playing In Pro Football Game |url=http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/men-action/201402/groundbreaking-woman-makes-history-playing-pro-football-game |access-date=February 17, 2014 |publisher=ThePostGame.com}}</ref> In 2015, Welter became the first female coach in a men's professional football league, after joining the coaching staff of the Revolution.<ref name=":9" /> That year, she also became the first female NFL coach as an intern with the [[Arizona Cardinals]],<ref name=":9" /> coaching inside linebackers at training camp and during the preseason.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rodrigue |first=Jourdan |date=15 June 2018 |title=Basketball coach takes on another sport – pro football |page=B2 |work=The News and Observer |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102947045/panthers-coach-intern-jennifer-king/ |access-date=2022-06-01 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>


== Players in predominantly female football leagues ==
In 2007, Abby Vestal was the kicker for the [[Kansas Koyotes]] in the [[American Professional Football League]], an indoor pro football league. Vestal kicked three PATs on April 23 marking the first female athlete to score points in a men's pro football game.
Players in traditional ("full pads") tackle football leagues.


=== 1960s and 1970s ===
On October 18, 1997, [[Liz Heaston]] became the first woman to play and score in a [[college football]] [[1997 Linfield vs. Willamette football game|game]], kicking two [[Point after touchdown|extra points]]. Prior to this game, female athletes at [[Duke Blue Devils football|Duke]] and [[Louisville Cardinals football|Louisville]] had come close to playing in a game but did not. In 2001, [[Ashley Martin]] became the second female athlete to score in a college football [[2001 Cumberland vs. Jacksonville State football game|game]], this time in the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]].
* Marcella Sanborn – Quarterback, Cleveland Daredevils (from 1967), called "the first true 'star' of women's football",<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Rozendaal |first=Neal |date=2017 |title=The Greatest Players In Women's Football History: Part 1 |url=http://nealrozendaal.com/womensfootball/greatest-players-history-2017-part-1/ |access-date=2022-05-28 |website=Neal Rozendaal}}</ref> playing for the first women's tackle football team.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 17, 2018 |title=Marcella Sanborn Smith was a pioneering star of women's tackle football |work=Cleveland.com |url=https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2018/11/marcella-sanborn-smith-was-a-pioneering-star-of-womens-tackle-football.html |access-date=2022-05-28}}</ref><ref name=":7" /> Named [[Bud Collins]]'s Athlete of the Year for 1967 in ''[[The Boston Globe]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Collins |first=Bud |date=December 22, 1967 |title=Marvelous Marcella – Athlete of the Year |pages=9 |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102691973/marvelous-marcella-athlete-of-the/ |access-date=2022-05-28 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
* [[Linda Jefferson]] – Halfback, [[Toledo Troopers]] (1972–1979), seven-time national champions ([[Women's Professional Football League|WPFL]], [[National Women's Football League|NWFL]]).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shore |first=Rob |date=July 31, 2014 |title=A Hall of Their Own |pages=A21 |work=Port Charlotte Sun |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102643652/a-hall-of-their-own/ |access-date=2022-05-27 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> One of only four women inducted into the American Football Association Hall of Fame.<ref name=":6">{{cite web |date=16 June 2013 |title=Remembering Toledo's Troopers |url=http://www.toledoblade.com/Movies/2013/06/16/Remembering-Toledo-s-Troopers.html |access-date=6 March 2017 |website=Toledo Blade}}</ref><ref name="americanfootballassn.com">{{cite web |title=American Football Association Semi-Pro Hall of Fame |url=http://www.americanfootballassn.com/hall-of-fame.html |access-date=29 November 2014 |website=Americanfootballassn.com}}</ref> Named the 1975 Athlete of the Year by [[womenSports]], the first magazine dedicated exclusively to covering women in sports.<ref name=":6" /> Posted five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons rushing.<ref name=":6" />
* Barbara Patton – Linebacker, Los Angeles Dandelions (1973–1975). In 1974, Patton was featured in a nationally syndicated newspaper article ("Mom, 32, Tries Football"), as linebacker, PBX operator, and single mother of two children, including her son Marvcus, age 7.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 10, 1974 |title=Mom, 32, Tries Football |page=80 |work=The Times |location=Munster, Indiana |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103013143/barbara-patton-football-feature/ |access-date=2022-06-02 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Throughout his career as an NFL linebacker, [[Marvcus Patton]] went on to frequently mention the influence of his mother Barbara as a former linebacker herself.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 3, 1992 |title=Some motherly helmut butts got him going |page=C2 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103013569/some-motherly-helmet-butts-got-him-going/ |access-date=2022-06-02 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Price |first=Terry |date=January 22, 1992 |title=In his mother's footsteps |page=D7 |work=[[The Hartford Courant]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103013589/in-his-mothers-footsteps/ |access-date=2022-06-02 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>


===21st century===
In 2003, [[Katie Hnida]] became the first female athlete to score in a Division I-A [[bowl game]]; she later became the second professional player when she signed with the [[Fort Wayne FireHawks]]. [[Julie Harshbarger]], a placekicker for numerous Chicago-based [[Continental Indoor Football League]] teams, became the first female player to win a [[most valuable player]] award in an otherwise all-male league in 2014; by kicking five [[Field goal (football)|field goals]] that season, she earned the title of special teams player of the year, leading all kickers in the league in scoring. [[Jennifer Welter]] became the first female [[skill position]] player at the male professional level by playing as a running back in the [[Texas Revolution (indoor football)|Texas Revolution]] in 2014.
<!-- Alphabetical order for this section only -->
*[[Callie Brownson]]: Safety/running back, [[D.C. Divas]] (2010–2017). Two-time gold medalist for Team USA in the [[2013 IFAF Women's World Championship|2013]] and [[2017 IFAF Women's World Championship]]s. Became the first female assistant football coach in the NCAA's Division I when she was hired by the [[Dartmouth Big Green football]] team.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Jones |first1=Kaelen |date=11 September 2018 |title=Dartmouth hires first female full-time D-I football coach |language=en-us |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |url=https://www.si.com/college/2018/09/11/dartmouth-callie-brownson-first-female-college-football-coach |url-status=live |access-date=1 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601031221/https://www.si.com/college/2018/09/11/dartmouth-callie-brownson-first-female-college-football-coach |archive-date=1 June 2022}}</ref> Currently an assistant coach of the [[Cleveland Browns]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gribble |first1=Andrew |date=31 January 2020 |title=Callie Brownson named Chief of Staff for Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski |language=en |work=www.clevelandbrowns.com |url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/callie-brownson-named-chief-of-staff-for-browns-head-coach-kevin-stefanski |url-status=live |access-date=1 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508191230/https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/callie-brownson-named-chief-of-staff-for-browns-head-coach-kevin-stefanski |archive-date=8 May 2021}}</ref>
*Allison Cahill: Quarterback, [[Boston Renegades (WFA)|Boston Renegades]] (2003, 2005–present). First quarterback in history to amass 100 career victories playing exclusively in women's football leagues.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cahill Notches 100th Career Victory |url=http://bostonrenegadesfootball.com/cahill-notches-100th-career-victory/ |access-date=1 January 2017 |website=bostonrenegadesfootball.com|date=May 16, 2016 }}</ref>
*[[Sami Grisafe]]: Quarterback, [[Chicago Force]] (2007–present). 2013 [[Women's Football Alliance|WFA]] National Champion and game MVP. Two-time gold medalist for Team USA in the [[2010 IFAF Women's World Championship|2010]] and [[2013 IFAF Women's World Championship]]s. Musician and songwriter.
*[[Anita Marks]]: Quarterback, [[Miami Fury]] (2000–2002), Florida Stingrays (2003). Television and radio sports reporter/commentator.<ref>{{cite web |title=Anita Marks Biography |url=http://www.anitamarks.com/bio.htm |access-date=2012-07-10 |publisher=Anitamarks.com}}</ref>
*[[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).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/ice-hockey-pashkevich-trades-american-football-olympic-dream-165525323--nhl.html|title=Ice Hockey – Pashkevich trades American football for Olympic dream}}</ref>
*[[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.
*[[Phoebe Schecter]]: Defensive linebacker and captain of the Great Britain team.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |date=August 15, 2017 |title=This is Phoebe Schecter, Britain's first female NFL coach |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-40928845 |access-date=2022-05-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 19, 2019 |title=Phoebe Schecter – Interview |url=https://femalecoachingnetwork.com/2019/09/19/phoebe-schecter-interview-2/ |access-date=2022-05-27 |website=Female Coaching Network}}</ref> In 2015, Schecter led the GB team to the European Championship final against Finland.<ref name=":5" /> In 2017, she made headlines as a coaching intern with the [[Buffalo Bills]] in the NFL.<ref>{{Cite news |title=The Insider: NFL – League opens up paths for women |pages=C2 |work=[[The Orlando Sentinel]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102630668/league-opens-path-to-jobs-for-women/ |access-date=2022-05-27 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
*[[Sarah Schkeeper]]: Offensive guard, [[New York Sharks]], [[Richmond Black Widows]] (2009–present). Gold medalist for Team USA [[2013 IFAF Women's World Championship]]. Founder of [[Richmond Black Widows]] football club.
*[[Katie Sowers]]: Eight-year player in the [[Women's Football Alliance]] and gold medalist for Team USA at the [[2013 IFAF Women's World Championship]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Katie Sowers - OFFENSIVE ASSISTANT |url=https://www.49ers.com/team/coaches-roster/katie-sowers |website=49ers.com |publisher=[[San Francisco 49ers]] |access-date=9 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108201837/https://www.49ers.com/team/coaches-roster/katie-sowers |archive-date=8 January 2021 |language=en |url-status=dead}}</ref> Later became the second female coach in NFL history, and the first to coach in a [[Super Bowl]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Yang |first1=Avery |title=49ers' Sowers First Female, Openly Gay Super Bowl Coach |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/01/22/katie-sowers-first-female-openly-gay-coach-super-bowl |access-date=9 June 2022 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=22 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524030111/https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/01/22/katie-sowers-first-female-openly-gay-coach-super-bowl |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-status=live |language=en-us}}</ref>
*[[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 IFAF Women's World Championship|2010]], [[2013 IFAF Women's World Championship|2013]]).<ref>{{cite web |date=18 January 2014 |title=Donna Wilkinson 2014 Profile |url=http://dcdivas.com/team/players/profiles/donna-wilkinson-2014-profile/ |access-date=6 March 2017 |website=Dcdivas.com}}</ref>
*[[Alissa Wykes]]: Running back, [[Philadelphia Liberty Belles]]. [[National Women's Football Association|NWFA]] MVP in 2001. Came out as a lesbian in December/January 2002 edition of ''[[Sports Illustrated for Women]]''.
*Whitney Zelee: Running back, [[Boston Militia]]/[[Boston Renegades (WFA)|Renegades]] (2011–present). In 2013, eclipsed the 2,000-yard benchmark and set a new record of 2,128 rushing yards over an eight-game season, earning her conference MVP honors.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Staffieri |first1=Mark |title=Whitney Zelee Emerging as the Finest Running Back in All of Women's Football |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1675886-whitney-zelee-emerging-as-the-finest-running-back-in-all-of-womens-football |access-date=22 September 2014 |website=Bleacher Report }}</ref> Holds [[Women's Football Alliance|WFA]] record for most touchdowns in one game (8 vs D.C. Divas on May 18, 2013). Two-time [[Women's Football Alliance|WFA]] National Champion and game MVP (2011, 2014).


== College players ==
Brittanee Jacobs is the first female football coach at the collegiate level. She helped coach safeties at [[Central Methodist University]] during the 2012 season. Welter would become the first female coach at the professional level when she took a preseason position with the [[Arizona Cardinals]] in 2015; a year later, [[Kathryn Smith (American football)|Kathryn Smith]], who had spent several years as a front office assistant, took a quality control coaching position with the [[Buffalo Bills]], making her the first permanent female coach in [[National Football League]] history.
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 (American football)|holder]] positions.<ref>{{cite news |last=Boren |first=Cindy |date=November 8, 2012 |title=Sam Gordon, 9-year-old girl, is already a football star |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2012/11/08/sam-gordon-9-year-old-girl-is-already-a-football-star-video/ |access-date=November 9, 2012 |newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref> Both positions are rarely involved in the full contact present in American football.


=== Placekickers ===
On November 28, 2020, [[Sarah Fuller (athlete)|Sarah Fuller]] became the first female to play in an [[NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision]] game for a school within one of the [[Power Five conferences]] when she kicked off in the second half for the [[Vanderbilt Commodores football]] team who are members of the [[Southeastern Conference]] (SEC).
* [[Liz Heaston]] – First woman to play and score in a [[college football]] [[1997 Linfield vs. Willamette football game|game]], kicking two [[Point after touchdown|extra points]] on October 18, 1997, as a placekicker with the [[Willamette Bearcats]] in the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]].<ref name=":9">{{Cite book |last=Rozendaal |first=Neal |title=The Women's Football Encyclopedia |publisher=Rozehawk Publishing |year=2016 |isbn=978-0-9970637-0-7 |edition=2016 |location=Rockville, Maryland |pages=219, 355}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=October 20, 1997 |title=Woman Kicks Extra Points |page=C8 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/20/sports/woman-kicks-extra-points.html |access-date=2022-05-29}}</ref> A star soccer player, Heaston had been recruited as a replacement for the injured starting kicker, and had trained with the team for three weeks;<ref name=":8" /> she played in only one other football game for Willamette.<ref name=":13" />
* [[Ashley Martin]] – Second female athlete to score in a college football [[2001 Cumberland vs. Jacksonville State football game|game]], and the first to score in an [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] Division I game on August 30, 2001, as a placekicker for [[Jacksonville State University]].<ref name="Reaves2">{{cite news |last=Reaves |first=Jay |date=August 31, 2001 |title=Female kicker 3-for-3 in Division I football debut |newspaper=CBC sports |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/female-kicker-3-for-3-in-division-i-football-debut-1.273970 |access-date=2022-05-29 }}</ref><ref name=":9" /> She kicked three extra points in a game against Cumberland University;<ref name=":13" /> JSU was then in [[NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision|Division I-AA]], which later became known as FCS.<ref name=":9" />
* [[Katie Hnida]] – First woman to score in an NCAA Division I-A football game on August 30, 2003, as a placekicker for the [[New Mexico Lobos football|University of New Mexico]], kicking two points against Texas State University.<ref name=":9" /><ref name="Archived copy">{{cite web |title=2 – Katie Hnida |url=http://www.golobos.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/hnida_katie00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100810170846/http://www.golobos.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/hnida_katie00.html |archive-date=2010-08-10 |access-date=2010-10-18}} (2-2 PATs, New Mexico vs. Texas State, August 30, 2003.)</ref> Also the first woman to appear in a [[bowl game]], at the [[2002 Las Vegas Bowl]] against UCLA, during which her extra point attempt was blocked.<ref name=":9" /> (See also "Players in predominantly male football leagues" above.)
* [[Tonya Butler]] – First woman to score a [[Field goal (American and Canadian football)|field goal]] in an NCAA game on September 27, 2003, while playing for the [[West Alabama Tigers football|University of West Alabama Tigers]] in [[NCAA Division II Football Championship|Division II]] as a graduate student.<ref name="WestAL2">{{cite news |last=Carroll |first=Andrew |date=September 14, 2003 |title=UWA's Tonya Butler aims for NCAA history |page=C1 |newspaper=The Tuscaloosa News |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IyAfAAAAIBAJ&pg=2049%2C2812065 |access-date=May 30, 2022 |via=[[Google Newspapers]]}}</ref><ref name="Tonya2">{{cite news |last=Rosen |first=Karen |date=October 17, 2003 |title=Pioneer still gets her football kicks |page=8D |newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102860906/pioneer-still-gets-her-football-kicks/ |access-date=2022-05-30 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> By 2004, Butler had scored 87 career points, setting an NCAA record for a female kicker.<ref name=":9" />
* Brittany Ryan – Scored 100 career points as placekicker for [[Lebanon Valley College]] of NCAA Division III in 2010, breaking Tonya Butler's record for most career points scored by a female player in the NCAA.<ref name="Ryan">{{cite news |last=Vecsey |first=George |date=October 8, 2010 |title=Kickers form bond and find sorority |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/09/sports/ncaafootball/09vecsey.html |access-date=November 26, 2011}}</ref><ref name=":9" />
* [[Sarah Fuller (athlete)|Sarah Fuller]] – First woman to play in a [[Power Five conferences|Power Five]] football game on November 28, 2020, after taking the opening kickoff of the second half for the [[Vanderbilt Commodores football]] team who were playing Missouri.<ref name=":16">{{Cite news |last=Sallee |first=Barrett |date=November 28, 2020 |title=Vanderbilt kicker Sarah Fuller makes history as first woman to play in a Power Five college football game |work=CBS Sports |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/vanderbilt-kicker-sarah-fuller-makes-history-as-first-woman-to-play-in-a-power-five-college-football-game/ |access-date=2022-05-31}}</ref> Fuller was a starting goalkeeper on the Vanderbilt women's soccer team, who had won the SEC Championship title the previous weekend;<ref name=":16" /> she tried out for the men's football team on the Monday before the game, because they were short of specialists due to [[COVID-19 testing in the United States|COVID-19 testing]], and needed a kicker.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Scarborough |first=Alex |date=November 28, 2020 |title=Vanderbilt Commodores K Sarah Fuller makes history with second-half kickoff |work=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/30407278/vanderbilt-commodores-k-sarah-fuller-makes-history-second-half-kickoff |access-date=2022-05-31}}</ref> On December 12, 2020, Fuller became the first woman to score a point in a Power Five football game, after kicking an extra point in a Vanderbilt game against Tennessee.<ref>{{cite web |author=Silverstein |first=Adam |date=December 13, 2020 |title=Vanderbilt kicker Sarah Fuller makes history again as first woman to score points in Power Five game |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/vanderbilt-kicker-sarah-fuller-makes-history-again-as-first-woman-to-score-points-in-power-five-game/ |access-date=December 12, 2020 |website=CBS Sports |language=en}}</ref>
* [[April Goss]]: Former college football placekicker at [[Kent State University]].<ref>{{cite web |title=April Goss |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/540816/april-goss |access-date=7 July 2018 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>
* KaLena "Beanie" Barnes: Former punter, and first woman to play on a top ten ranked Division I-A team, for the [[University of Nebraska-Lincoln|University of Nebraska]].<ref name="LincolnJournalStar">{{cite news |last=Christopherson |first=Brian |date=November 10, 2006 |title=Beanie does it all |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |url=http://journalstar.com/news/local/beanie-does-it-all/article_49f86c25-0d9a-5b4d-8443-0219d373c072.html}}</ref>
* Leilani Armenta: Placekicker for the [[Jackson State Tigers football|Jackson State Tigers]]. First woman to score in an [[Historically black colleges and universities|HBCU]] game, scoring three extra points in an October 29, 2023 game against Arkansas Pine-Bluff.<ref name="Armenta">{{Cite web |last=Bromberg |first=Nick |date=2023-10-29 |title=Jackson State's Leilani Armenta becomes first woman to score in HBCU football game |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/jackson-states-leilani-armenta-becomes-first-woman-to-score-in-hbcu-football-game-121218850.html#:~:text=The%20California%20native%20joins%20players,points%20in%202020%20against%20Tennessee. |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=Yahoo}}</ref>
* Madison Barch: First woman to score non-kicking points in college football at any level (NCAA, NAIA, etc.), caught a two-point conversion in an NCAA Division III game at Trine University on November 11, 2023. A placekicker for the [[Kalamazoo College]] Hornets, Barch finished her career making 35-of-41 extra point attempts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-20 |title=K-College kicker becomes first woman to score in DIII football game |url=https://www.fox17online.com/sports/k-college-kicker-becomes-first-woman-to-score-in-diii-football-game |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=FOX 17 West Michigan News (WXMI) |language=en}}</ref>


=== Other positions ===
To date, only one woman has ever attempted to join the NFL{{Dubious|date=October 2017}}: Lauren Silberman, who received a tryout to a scouting combine in 2013. Silberman had never played the game before and botched her tryout, leading observers to assume the tryout was a [[publicity stunt]].
* Taylor Crout – The first female player to play a non-kicking position in an NCAA game at any level, for the [[NCAA Division III|D3]] [[Fitchburg State Falcons football|Fitchburg State Falcons]] on September 9, 2023.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Geoffrey C. Arnold |title=Taylor Crout, not Hayley Van Voorhis, may have been the first female non-kicker to play in an NCAA game: Report |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/2023/09/taylor-crout-not-hayley-van-voorhis-may-have-been-the-first-female-non-kicker-to-play-in-a-ncaa-game-report.html |access-date=30 September 2023 |work=[[The Oregonian]] |date=26 September 2023}}</ref> Two weeks later, [[Haley Van Voorhis]] also appeared in a non-kicking position, for the [[NCAA Division III|D3]] [[Shenandoah Hornets]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grez |first=Matias |date=2023-09-25 |title=Haley Van Voorhis makes history as first female non-kicker to play in NCAA football game |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/25/sport/haley-van-voorhis-history-first-female-non-kicker-ncaa-spt-intl/index.html |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>
* Lily Godwin – First female player in NCAA history to record a solo tackle, as a LB for the [[University of Puget Sound|University of Puget Sound Loggers]], a D3 school.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 13, 2023 |title=Lily Godwin makes history with tackle in NCAA football game |url=https://www.king5.com/article/sports/football/puget-sounds-lily-godwin-first-woman-solo-tackle-ncaa-football-game/281-7f49bed5-a40c-4e0c-bd72-9bb855e9ea30 |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=king5.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Samantha Gordon|Sam Gordon]] – Running back, Salt Lake City. Her play in a youth football league<ref>{{cite web |last=Adelson |first=Eric |date=November 7, 2012 |title=Nine-year-old girl Sam Gordon shredding defenses to the tune of 25 touchdowns |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/internet-sensation--nine-year-old-girl-shredding-defenses-to-the-tune-of-25-touchdowns.html |access-date=November 9, 2012 |publisher=[[Yahoo! Sports]]}}</ref> led to her becoming the first female football player featured on a Wheaties box.<ref>{{cite web |title=Girl Football Player Sam Gordon, 9, Lands Wheaties Box Cover After Video of Skills Goes Viral Video |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/girl-football-player-sam-gordon-lands-wheaties-box-17777656 |access-date=2017-03-06 |website=ABC News}}</ref>
* [[Toni Harris]] – First woman to be offered a full college football scholarship, playing in a full-contact [[skill position]].<ref name=":14">{{Cite news |last=Almasy |first=Steve |date=March 2, 2019 |title=Woman gets a college football scholarship to play defense on men's team |work=CNN |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/02/28/sport/missouri-female-football-player-scholarship-spt-trnd/index.html |access-date=2022-05-31}}</ref><ref name=":15">{{cite web |last=Murphy |first=Helen |date=February 27, 2019 |title=Female College Football Player Gets Full Football Scholarship After Cancer Battle |url=https://people.com/sports/toni-harris-football-full-scholarship-cancer/ |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=People |language=en}}</ref> By the end of her community college career as [[Safety (gridiron football position)|free safety]] for [[East Los Angeles College|East Los Angeles Community College]], Harris had received scholarship offers from six universities, and finally signed with [[Central Methodist University]], an NAIA school.<ref name=":15" /><ref name=":14" /> Harris was also the first female football player in a television ad aired during the Super Bowl, appearing in a commercial for [[Toyota]] during [[Super Bowl LIII]] in February 2019.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Caron |first=Emily |date=February 27, 2019 |title=Female football player makes history with scholarship offer |url=https://www.si.com/college-football/2019/02/27/female-football-player-toni-harris-makes-history-college-scholarship-offer |access-date=2019-02-27 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en}}</ref> In February 2020, Harris appeared in an "NFL 100" commercial at the opening of [[Super Bowl LIV]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=de la Cretaz |first1=Britni |title=Hail Mary: The Rise and Fall of the National Women's Football League |last2=D'Arcangelo |first2=Lyndsey |publisher=Bold Type Books |year=2021 |isbn=9781645036623 |location=New York |pages=6}}</ref>
* Reina Iizuka – First woman to appear on a [[U Sports football|U Sports (Canadian) football]] roster; DB/LB for the [[University of Manitoba]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://universityaffairs.ca/news/news-article/meet-reina-iizuka-the-first-woman-on-the-roster-of-a-usports-mens-football-team/|title=Meet Reina Iizuka, the first woman on the roster of a USports men’s football team|website=University Affairs}}</ref>
* Sofia Jonasson – First European female to play for an American college.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Eric Hilmersson |title=Sofia skriver historia – genom att tackla 120-kilosmän |url=https://www.gp.se/sport/sofia-skriver-historia-genom-att-tackla-120-kilosman.17b0d7ce-72b0-4d2c-bd98-8bfaadbf9b0e |access-date=2024-04-28 |work=[[Göteborgs-Posten]] |date=2021-07-12 |language=Swedish}}{{closed access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Oscar Rickstrand |title=Hon skriver historia i USA: "Känns enormt" |url=https://www.sla.se/2020/07/24/hon-skriver-historia-i-usa-ochquotkanns-enormtochquot-71589/ |access-date=2024-04-28 |work=[[Skaraborgs Allehanda]] |date=2020-07-24 |language=Swedish}}{{closed access}}</ref>
* Shelby Osborne – Became the first female player 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.<ref>{{cite news |last=McDonald |first=Janelle |date=June 4, 2014 |title=Groundbreaking football player signs to play in college |publisher=[[WAVE (TV)|WAVE-TV]] |location=Louisville, Kentucky |url=http://www.wave3.com/story/25695271/groundbreaking-football-player-signs-to-play-in-college |access-date=August 14, 2014}}</ref>


== High school players ==
===Youth===
=== Pre-2000 ===
* [[Luverne Wise|Luverne "Toad" Wise]] – First female player to score in an American football game, as a kicker for the Atmore (now Escambia County) Alabama High School Blue Devils in 1939; also played in 1940.<ref>{{cite web |title=Atmore Icons: Luverne 'Toad' Wise Albert – The Atmore Advance |url=http://www.atmoreadvance.com/2013/07/19/atmore-icons-luverne-toad-wise-albert/ |access-date=6 March 2017 |website=Atmoreadvance.com|date=July 20, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first=Steve |last=Springer |title=Jones kicks down barriers, scores for Tiger football |url=https://www.murrayledger.com/sports/jones-kicks-down-barriers-scores-for-tiger-football/article_f66c953a-0904-11eb-ad73-73a6cec99d16.html |website=Murray Ledger and Times|date=October 6, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The first female football player, a forgotten story from Atmore, Alabama – Alabama Pioneers |url=https://www.alabamapioneers.com/forgotten-story-young-female-football-player-atmore-alabama/ |website=www.alabamapioneers.com}}</ref>
* Frankie Groves – The first female to play on a boys' high school varsity team in the state of Texas, she played right tackle for Stinnett High School in 1947.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-06-02 |title=The story of the first female to play Texas high school football...and how it almost never happened |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/high-school-sports/2016/06/02/the-story-of-the-first-female-to-play-texas-high-school-football-and-how-it-almost-never-happened/ |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=[[Dallas News]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-07-14 |title=First female football player in Texas recalls glory days |url=https://www.chron.com/sports/highschool/article/First-female-football-player-in-Texas-recalls-1673773.php |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=Chron |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Theresa Dion – First female player on a boys' high school varsity team in the state of Florida, when she played as a placekicker for Immaculate High School in [[Key West]], Florida, in 1972.<ref name="Dion">{{cite news |date=November 3, 1972 |title=Good Ole 63 Places a Mean Kick |agency=Associated Press |url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2023/Rome%20NY%20Daily%20Sentinel/Rome%20NY%20Daily%20Sentinel%201972/Rome%20NY%20Daily%20Sentinel%201972%20-%206956.pdf}}</ref> Dion has been referred to as the first female player on a boys' high school varsity team (in any sport).<ref name=":10">{{Cite journal |last=Leong |first=Nancy |date=2018 |title=Against Women's Sports |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/AGAINST+WOMEN%27S+SPORTS-a0540333546 |journal=Washington University Law Review |volume=95 |issue=5 |pages=1271 |via=[[The Free Library]]}}</ref>
* [[Tami Maida]] – First known quarterback to also a become homecoming princess, as a 14-year-old junior varsity quarterback at [[Philomath High School]] in [[Philomath, Oregon]], in 1981.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=November 10, 1981 |title=Homecoming queen is the quarterback |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pIRfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_TAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5936,4191029&dq=tami+maida&hl=en |access-date=January 13, 2011}}</ref> Her story was the basis of the CBS movie ''Quarterback Princess'' starring [[Helen Hunt]] as Maida.<ref name=":1" /> She is Canadian.<ref name=":1" />
* Beth Bates – First female player in Kentucky to score in a high school football game, kicking five extra points for the [[Williamsburg, Kentucky|Williamsburg]] Yellow Jackets during her junior year in 1982.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Fields |first=Mike |date=2016-10-26 |title=Beth Bates Got Her Foot in the Door of Football History |url=https://khsaa.org/beth-bates-got-her-foot-in-the-door-of-football-history/ |access-date=2017-09-05 |website=KHSAA}}</ref> Her historic first extra point was covered in ''The New York Times'' and ''Sports Illustrated.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 21, 1982 |title=SPORTS PEOPLE; Point Makes History |pages=D26 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/09/21/sports/sports-people-point-makes-history.html |access-date=2022-05-24}}</ref>''<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=October 11, 1982 |title=Faces in the Crowd |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |volume=57 |issue=16 |via=[[EBSCO]]}}</ref> She became the first female player to score a field goal in Kentucky during her senior year, when she connected on a 22-yarder.<ref name=":0" />
* Heather Darrow – First female athlete in the state of Tennessee to score a point in a high school football game, when she kicked a PAT in the season opener as a junior at Notre Dame High in 1986.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=October 13, 1986 |title=Faces in the Crowd |magazine=Sports Illustrated |volume=65 |issue=16 |via=[[EBSCO]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |agency=Associated Press |date=September 7, 1986 |title=Prep Football Team Pins Its Hopes on New Kicker—and She Hopes to Succeed |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-09-07-sp-12382-story.html |access-date=2022-05-25 |via=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Regular Season Football Records |url=https://tssaasports.com/history/records/view.cfm?type=season&sport=football |access-date=2022-05-25 |website=TSSAAsports.com}}</ref>
*Kathleen Trumbo – First female in the state of Indiana to earn a varsity letter in football, as a defensive tackle at Corydon Central High School in 1989.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=December 5, 1989 |title=Good sport – Female football player may be state's first to earn a letter |pages=2 |work=Indianapolis Star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102500080/good-sport-female-football-player/ |access-date=2022-05-25 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=October 20, 1989 |title=Player tackles skeptics – Gridiron girl now gets respect on and off the field |pages=1 |work=Indianapolis Star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102498727/trumbo-tackles-skeptics/ |access-date=2022-05-25 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Although other girls in Indiana had started the season on boys' football teams, only Trumbo is believed to have finished.<ref name=":2" />
*Sabrina Wells – One of the first two female players in the WPIAL (Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League), who played as a tight end for Ballou High School in Washington, DC, in 1989.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=August 31, 1989 |title=Woodland Hills' first opponent: The tight end is a she |pages=25 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102501613/woodland-hills-first-opponent-the/ |access-date=2022-05-25 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Featured in ''Jet'' magazine with Lakeal Ellis.<ref name="books.google.com">{{Cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QIgDAAAAMBAJ&q=sabrina+wells+lakeal+ellis&pg=PA28 |title= D.C. Girls First to Play on Boys' Football Teams |date=13 November 1989 |magazine=Jet|language=en}}</ref>
*Lakeal Ellis – One of the first two female players in the WPIAL (Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League), who played as a defensive back for Roosevelt High School in Washington, DC, in 1989.<ref name=":3" /> Featured in ''Jet'' magazine with Sabrina Wells.<ref name="books.google.com" />
*Jessica Schultz – First female in Tennessee to score a touchdown in a varsity football game, as a sophomore running back at Jellico High in 1998.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 18, 1998 |title=Jellico girl scores TD |pages=37 |work=The Commercial Appeal |location=Memphis, Tennessee |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102506671/jellico-girl-scores-td/ |access-date=2022-05-25 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> The touchdown on the home field of border rival Williamsburg High in Kentucky was viewed as "revenge" for the widely publicized extra point scored by Beth Bates 16 years prior.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 21, 1998 |title=Sports on the Edge |pages=7 |work=San Angelo Standard-Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102506728/jellico-high-school-revenge/ |access-date=2022-05-25 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
*Tonya Fletcher – One of the very few female players in the state of Illinois to have tried and succeeded in playing high school football as of 1998, along with Tina Brooks of Wauconda High.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 18, 1998 |title=Fletcher, Brooks have the answers |pages=1, Section 4 |work=The Daily Herald |location=Chicago, Illinois |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102506977/fletcher-and-brooks-football-players/ |access-date=2022-05-25 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Fletcher was a kicker for Cary Grove High School, who was named homecoming queen in 1998,<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 11, 1998 |title=Late stop is key for Cary-Grove |pages=22 (Section 3) |work=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102506940/cary-grove-homecoming/ |access-date=2022-05-25 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> and was featured in ''Mary-Kate and Ashley Magazine'' in 2001.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 March 2001 |title=Cary girl featured in youth magazine |work=Northwest Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102506958/cary-girl-in-tween-magazine/ |access-date=2022-05-25 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>


=== Post-2000 ===
Pop Warner estimates that girls make up one percent of its 250,000 registered players, or about 2,500 girls aged five to fourteen playing tackle football in an organization that makes up eight to ten percent of total youth football participation. If that ratio holds true for the estimated 2.5 million youth football players overall,{{dubious|reason=is there any evidence of this?|date=October 2018}} it would mean 25,000 girls playing tackle football at the youth level. Female-only youth leagues are growing in popularity,{{Citation needed|date=October 2018}} but are still far outnumbered by local youth programs that are male dominated.
* [[Holley Mangold]] – In 2007, played high school football as an offensive lineman; younger sister of NFL offensive lineman [[Nick Mangold]]. She also competed as a weightlifter in [[Weightlifting at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's +75 kg|the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
* Jessica Ciarrocchi: Starting Running Back, Linebacker and Free Safety. Played 4 years of Varsity Level Youth Tackle Football for the Marple Jr. Tigers of the Bert Bell Memorial Football League. First girl ever to start at Running Back and Linebacker/Free Safety in a Varsity Bert Bell Championship Game (110lb Division). Scored over 60 Touchdowns in her career and led her team in Rushing and Tackles every season played. Also started at Quarterback as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://patch.com/pennsylvania/westchester/showing-the-boys-how-its-done|title=Showing the Boys How It's Done|publisher=patch.com|date=December 8, 2012|access-date=November 17, 2017|author=Blackmer, Lane|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117185231/https://patch.com/pennsylvania/westchester/showing-the-boys-how-its-done|archive-date=November 17, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Mika Makekau: In 2008, as a placekicker for Iolani School in Honolulu, Hawaii, Makekau set the state record for longest field goal (44 yards) by a female kicker.<ref>{{Citation |title='Iolani's Mika Makekau sets girls FG distance mark | date=September 21, 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaNhuTuWqE0 |language=en |access-date=2019-09-09}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web |date=April 17, 2019 |first=Paul |last=Honda |title='Iolani's Mika Makekau becomes La Verne's 1st female football player |url=https://www.hawaiiprepworld.com/featured/iolanis-mika-makekau-becomes-la-vernes-1st-female-football-player/ |access-date=2019-09-09 |website=www.hawaiiprepworld.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Later became a college football placekicker at the [[University of La Verne]], making a 26-yard field goal against No. 11 Whitworth on September 7, 2019.<ref name="auto" /><ref>{{cite journal |date=2019-09-07 |title=Football Edged by No. 11 Whitworth in Opener |url=https://leopardathletics.com/sports/fball/2019-20/releases/20190908lrfxit |language=en |access-date=2019-09-09 |website=La Verne}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2019-08-23 |title=First female kicker joins University of La Verne football team |url=http://www.dailybulletin.com/first-female-kicker-joins-university-of-la-verne-football-team |access-date=2019-09-09 |website=Daily Bulletin |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Sarah Crispin: Starting Middle Linebacker, Ridley Middle School, Pennsylvania. Started playing tackle football at the age of 7. U.S. national football team hopeful.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.delcotimes.com/general-news/20130930/gridiron-girl-ridleys-sarah-crispin-tackles-fear-stereotypes-to-shine-on-the-football-field|publisher=[[Delaware County Daily Times]]|first=Jeff|last=Wolfe|title=Gridiron Girl: Ridley's Sarah Crispin tackles fear, stereotypes to shine on the football field|date=September 29, 2013}}</ref>
* [[Erin DiMeglio]] – In 2012, became the first female quarterback to see play in Florida high school football history<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120916091542/http://espn.go.com/espnw/more-sports/8367688/espnw-erin-dimeglio-makes-history-south-plantation-high-school Erin DiMeglio makes history at South Plantation High School]. ''ESPN.com''. Retrieved December 1, 2012.</ref>
* Mandy Davis: Starting running back and middle linebacker, Pleasant Grove Middle School, Alabama. Started playing in 7th grade for the first time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://alabamanewscenter.com/2015/10/05/mandy-davis-yes-a-girl-scores-a-touchdown-in-middle-school-football-game/|title=Alabama girl scores a touchdown in middle school football game|date=5 October 2015|website=Alabamanewscenter.com|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref>
* [[Anna Zerilli]] – Started kicking for Manchester-Essex High School, MA in 2015 and was the starting Varsity kicker for them. First female football player in North Shore and Cape Ann History and first female freshman to score in a Varsity game in American history. Currently playing Varsity football at Proctor Academy in New Hampshire. First New England female to sign to play college football. And will be kicking at Lake Forest College in Illinois next fall.<ref>{{cite web |date=2016-08-03 |title=Meet Anna Zerilli. She's the kicker on her high school football team. And she got a chance to kick around with New England Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski! |url=https://m.facebook.com/NFL/videos/10156072054041263/ |access-date=2019-09-15 |publisher=M.facebook.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Curcuru |first=Nick |title=Trailblazer |url=http://www.gloucestertimes.com/sports/local_sports/trailblazer/article_9133c561-c4e0-5ca3-b4d8-c11922fdb141.html |access-date=7 July 2018|date=September 28, 2017|work=Gloucester Daily Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=10 November 2017 |title=Manchester-Essex Player Becomes Football Team's First Ever Female Kicker |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/female-kicker-manchester-essex-high-school-anna-zerilli/ |access-date=7 July 2018|website=CBS News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=15 November 2017 |title=Girls gaining acceptance on Eastern Massachusetts high school football gridirons |website=[[The Boston Globe]] |url=http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/high-schools/2017/10/19/emass-girls-gaining-acceptance-gridiron/UsbCrZ7kBBgW14LDLdd2bM/story.html?event=event25event=event25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115034606/http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/high-schools/2017/10/19/emass-girls-gaining-acceptance-gridiron/UsbCrZ7kBBgW14LDLdd2bM/story.html?event=event25event=event25 |archive-date=2017-11-15 |access-date=7 July 2018}}</ref> Kicker at [[Lake Forest College]]. First female to play on male football team in school history. Became first to play in the conference and first female to play college football in the Midwest.
* [[Samantha Gordon|Sam Gordon]]: Running back, Salt Lake City. Her play in a youth football league<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/internet-sensation--nine-year-old-girl-shredding-defenses-to-the-tune-of-25-touchdowns.html|publisher=[[Yahoo! Sports]]|first=Eric|last=Adelson|title=Nine-year-old girl Sam Gordon shredding defenses to the tune of 25 touchdowns|date=November 7, 2012|access-date=November 9, 2012}}</ref> led to her becoming the first female football player featured on a Wheaties box.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/girl-football-player-sam-gordon-lands-wheaties-box-17777656|title=Girl Football Player Sam Gordon, 9, Lands Wheaties Box Cover After Video of Skills Goes Viral Video|website=Abcnews.go.com|access-date=2017-03-06}}</ref>
* [[Becca Longo]] – Kicker who in 2017 became the first woman to earn a college football scholarship to an [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] school at the [[NCAA Division II|Division II]] level or higher and signed a letter of intent with [[Adams State University]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Margin |first=Jill |date=2017-04-13 |title=Becca Longo: Female kicker makes college football history with scholarship |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/13/sport/becca-longo-college-football-scholarship/index.html |access-date=2017-04-14 |website=CNN}}</ref>
* Angelica Richards: Starting offensive tackle, Austin Road Middle School, Georgia. Started playing 7th grade for the first time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://schoolwires.henry.k12.ga.us/Page/85207|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201005437/http://schoolwires.henry.k12.ga.us/Page/85207|archive-date=2016-02-01|title=Football / 8th grade ARMS football team|date=1 February 2016|access-date=7 July 2018}}</ref>
*Allie Spellman: Starting Left Tackle & Right Guard, Colome. First girl to play on a Defensive and Offensive Tackle Line, Also first girl to play hands-on football at Colome High School in Colome, South Dakota.

===High school===

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, there more than 1,900 girls who played high school football in 2016. For years, the number of high schools with football teams and the number of high school children playing football grew at a steady rate. But recently, participation leveled off and even began to go down, except for one group: high school girls.
* 1939–40 – [[Luverne Wise|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 (in 1939).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atmoreadvance.com/2013/07/19/atmore-icons-luverne-toad-wise-albert/|title=Atmore Icons: Luverne 'Toad' Wise Albert – The Atmore Advance|website=Atmoreadvance.com|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.murrayledger.com/sports/jones-kicks-down-barriers-scores-for-tiger-football/article_f66c953a-0904-11eb-ad73-73a6cec99d16.html|title=Jones kicks down barriers, scores for Tiger football|first=STEVE SPRINGER • Sports|last=Reporter|website=Murray Ledger and Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alabamapioneers.com/forgotten-story-young-female-football-player-atmore-alabama/|title=The first female football player, a forgotten story from Atmore, Alabama – Alabama Pioneers|website=www.alabamapioneers.com}}</ref>
* 1972 – 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.<ref name="Dion">{{cite news|title=Good Ole 63 Places a Mean Kick|agency=Associated Press|date=November 3, 1972|url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2023/Rome%20NY%20Daily%20Sentinel/Rome%20NY%20Daily%20Sentinel%201972/Rome%20NY%20Daily%20Sentinel%201972%20-%206956.pdf}}</ref>
* 1981 – [[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.
* 1982 – Beth Bates, a [[Williamsburg, Kentucky]] High school junior in 1982, became the first woman in Kentucky to score in a high school football game, kicking five extra points.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://khsaa.org/beth-bates-got-her-foot-in-the-door-of-football-history/|title=BETH BATES GOT HER FOOT IN THE DOOR OF FOOTBALL HISTORY|last=Fields|first=Mike|date=2016-10-26|website=KHSAA|access-date=2017-09-05}}</ref>
* 1986 – Heather Darrow: In 1986, Darrow became the first female athlete in the state of Tennessee to score a point in a high school football game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1986-09-07/sports/sp-12382_1_prep-football|title=Prep Football Team Pins Its Hopes on New Kicker—and She Hopes to Succeed|agency=Associated Press|date=7 September 1986|access-date=7 July 2018|via=LA Times}}</ref>
*1989 – Kathleen Trumbo: Corydon Central High School, Corydon, Indiana. First girl in the nation to earn a varsity letter as a nose guard/offensive tackle for a high school boy's varsity team. She also was a varsity starter in the final two games of the season.
*1989 – Sabrina Wells: Ballou High School, Washington, D.C. Tight end listed at 5-foot-4, 180 lbs. in the program, according to the Nov. 13, 1989, issue of Jet magazine<ref name="books.google.com">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QIgDAAAAMBAJ&q=sabrina+wells+lakeal+ellis&pg=PA28|title=Jet: D.C. Girls First to Play on Boys' Football Teams|date=13 November 1989|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|language=en}}</ref> that ran a feature on her and cross-town female player Lakeal Ellis. See a video of her team playing Pittsburgh's Woodland Hills High School in 1989.<ref>{{Cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GghqSDyQPUs|title=Woodland Hills vs Ballou High School - September 1989|language=en}}</ref>
*1989 – Lakeal Ellis: Roosevelt High School, Washington, D.C. Played defensive back because "I like to hit people," according to the Jet article.<ref name="books.google.com"/>
* 1989–91 – Wanda Ballou: First girl in Ohio to play boy's JV & Varsity High School football 1989–1991. Wanda was starting wide receiver and Safety. At 5'7 and 130lbs, she was fast with great hand skills, a force to be reckoned with.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1989-Press-Photo-Wanda-Ballou-female-football-player-at-Brookside-HS-/371348481690?hash=item567618269a|title=1989 Press Photo Wanda Ballou female football player at Brookside HS &#124; eBay|website=Ebay.ca|access-date=2017-03-06}}</ref>
* 1997 - Christal Cook was the first girl to play on her high school's football team. She was a guard and lineman on the freshman football team at Central High School in Bridgeport, CT.
* 1998 – Jessica "Lil' Bulldog" Schultz: Fifteen year old, 4'11", female sophomore played fullback, outside linebacker, and special teams, with the male varsity team for Jellico, TN, Blue Devils. She scored the first rushing touchdown by a female in 1998. Jellico v. Williamsburg. This was a reaction to border rival Yellow Jackets and the field goal kick by Beth Bates. The play was a family event as Bulldog's brother, Adam Schultz, is seen in footage jumping for joy as number 88; before Bulldog was carried off the field by him and the other senior varsity players.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19980919&slug=2772871|title=Sports – Tennessee Girl Scores First Td For Varsity – Seattle Times Newspaper|website=Community.seattletimes.nwsource.com|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref>
* 1999 – Tonya Fletcher earned a spot as the starting place-kicker for the Cary-Grove High School Trojans, becoming the first female to play varsity football in McHenry County, Illinois. She won homecoming queen that year and accepted her crown in her football uniform.
* 1999 – Samantha "Sami" Grisafe: First girl in California to play quarterback in a Varsity Division I High School Football game in 2000 at Redlands High School. Named captain of Redland's High School's Freshman Football Team in 1999. Inducted into the Redlands High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014 for her accomplishments in Varsity Football, Softball, and Volleyball.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whittierdailynews.com/article/LE/20140927/SPORTS/140929537|title=Sami Grisafe unique entry into Redlands High School Hall of Fame|website=Whittierdailynews.com|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1675014-sami-grisafe-ready-to-display-her-football-proficiencies-on-the-world-stage#|title=Sami Grisafe Ready to Display Her Football Proficiencies on the World Stage|first=Mark|last=Staffieri|website=Bleacherreport.com|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref>
* 2007 – Nicole Gooch became the first girl to score points at the 4A level in Iowa history, kicking PAT's for Des Moines Hoover.
* 2007 – [[Holley Mangold]]: In 2007, played high school football as an offensive lineman; younger sister of NFL offensive lineman [[Nick Mangold]]. She also competed as a weightlifter in [[Weightlifting at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's +75 kg|the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
* 2009–15 – Brooke Liebsch: Started playing on all boys tackle teams in 2009, and became [[Liberty North High School|Liberty (Missouri) North High School]]'s first female quarterback in 2015.<ref name="Brooke">{{cite news|title=Missouri teen becomes school's first female quarterback|newspaper=New York Daily|date=July 3, 2015|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/missouri-teen-school-female-quarterb-article-1.2280604}}</ref> Recently lettered in football her Sophomore year. First female to make it to the U.S. National Development Games in Arlington Texas, July 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/USNationalFootballTeam/videos/1393445587338103/|title=Brooke Liebsch shows she has what it... – U.S. National Football Team|website=Facebook.com|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref> March 2017 at the age of 16 registered with the WFA Women's Football Alliance. 2017 Rookie starting quarterback for the KC Titans Women's team. First year playing she took her team to the first round of the playoffs. This year will be her second year attending the KC Chiefs Play 60 Event for the Girl Scouts.
* 2009–15 – Grace Milstein: Started playing Tackle Football on an all boys team in 6th grade and continued to play until her Senior year at [[Novato High School]] in 2015. She was one of the first girls to play in California as both Receiver and Free Safety.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marinscope.com/novato_advance/sports/hornets-grace-under-pressure/article_56f6b7ca-7835-11e5-beea-673dc8407805.html|title=Hornets' Grace Under Pressure|first=Bruce Meadows Marinscope|last=contributor|access-date=7 July 2018}}</ref>
* 2012 – [[Erin DiMeglio]]: In 2012, became the first female quarterback to see play in Florida high school football history<ref>[http://espn.go.com/espnw/more-sports/8367688/espnw-erin-dimeglio-makes-history-south-plantation-high-school Erin DiMeglio makes history at South Plantation High School]. ''ESPN.com''. Retrieved December 1, 2012.</ref>
*2013- Nicole Daoura: Kicker for Bothell High School in Bothell, WA. Became first woman to score point in a WIAA football game
* 2014–present – [[Becca Longo]], kicker who in 2017 became the first woman to earn a college football scholarship to an [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] school at the [[NCAA Division II|Division II]] level or higher and signed a letter of intent with [[Adams State University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/13/sport/becca-longo-college-football-scholarship/index.html|title=Becca Longo: Female kicker makes college football history with scholarship|last=Margin|first=Jill|date=2017-04-13|website=CNN|access-date=2017-04-14}}</ref>
* 2012–present – Kortney Cooper: First female to letter at East High School in Scioto County. Started playing lineman her fourth grade year. 2017, played defensive end and Special teams. Kortney continues her football career.
* 2014 – 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.<ref>{{cite web|author=Kristina Webb|url=http://www.tcpalm.com/sports/high-school/anastasia-hooker-sebastian-river-jv-football-player-kicks-her-way-to-history-with-recent-point|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013150614/http://www.tcpalm.com/sports/high-school/anastasia-hooker-sebastian-river-jv-football-player-kicks-her-way-to-history-with-recent-point|url-status=dead|archive-date=2014-10-13|title=Anastasia Hooker: Sebastian River JV football player kicks her way to history with recent point - Story|date=2014-10-10|access-date=2019-09-15}}</ref>
* 2014 – Mary Kate Smith: Senior kicker for South Jones High School in [[Ellisville, Mississippi]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.today.com/news/homecoming-queen-mary-kate-smith-also-stars-her-high-schools-1D80152270|title=Here's the kicker: This homecoming queen also stars on her school's football team|date=September 16, 2014|agency=[[Today (American TV program)|Today]]|author=Serico, Chris|access-date=November 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129035336/https://www.today.com/news/homecoming-queen-mary-kate-smith-also-stars-her-high-schools-1D80152270|archive-date=November 28, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2014/09/08/senior-soccer-star-football-kicker-homecoming-queen/15300119/|title=Senior soccer star is both football kicker and Homecoming Queen|date=September 8, 2014|agency=[[The Clarion-Ledger]]|author=Apel, Therese|access-date=November 28, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mary-kate-smith-football-kicker_n_5850906|title=This Badass High School Football Player Is Also A Homecoming Queen|date=September 22, 2014|agency=[[HuffPost]]|author=Stone, Avery|access-date=November 28, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a14805/homecoming-queen-football-player-mary-kate-smith/|title=Meet The Homecoming Queen Who's Also A Kickass Football Player|date=September 22, 2014|agency=[[Elle (magazine)|Elle]]|author=Bailey, Alyssa|access-date=November 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129040930/https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a14805/homecoming-queen-football-player-mary-kate-smith/|archive-date=November 28, 2020}}</ref> Later went on to play [[college soccer]] for the [[University of Southern Mississippi]], [[Jones County Junior College]], and the [[University of Mississippi]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://olemisssports.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/mary-kate-smith/1018|title=Mary Kate Smith Bio|agency=[[University of Mississippi]]|access-date=November 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129041557/https://olemisssports.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/mary-kate-smith/1018|archive-date=November 28, 2020}}</ref>
* 2015 – Trevion Borders: In 2015, became the first female to play freshman football for Klein Oak high School in Houston, Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abc13.com/sports/freshman-girl-impresses-with-her-football-skills/978012/|title=Freshman girl impresses with her football skills|author=David Nuno|date=10 September 2015|website=Abc13.com|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref>
* 2015 – Maya Ochoa: In 2015, played as a freshman wide receiver and safety at Creekview High School in Carrollton, Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mustangmedia.org/1983/sports/tougher-than-she-looks/|title=Tougher Than She Looks|first=Bryan|last=Ramirez|website=Mustangmedia.org|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref>
* 2015 – Evonnie Ramos: first Sophomore female to play JV football as a Left guard and special teams in Fort Stockton, Texas (Pecos County) 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newswest9.com/story/30005382/sophomore-girl-joins-fort-stockton-football-team|title=Sophomore Girl Joins Fort Stockton Football Team|website=Newswest9.com|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref>
* 2015 – [[Anna Zerilli]]: Started kicking for Manchester-Essex High School, MA in 2015 and was the starting Varsity kicker for them. First female football player in North Shore and Cape Ann History and first female freshman to score in a Varsity game in American history. Currently playing Varsity football at Proctor Academy in New Hampshire. First New England female to sign to play college football. And will be kicking at Lake Forest College in Illinois next fall.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.facebook.com/NFL/videos/10156072054041263/|title=Meet Anna Zerilli. She's the kicker on her high school football team. And she got a chance to kick around with New England Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski!|publisher=M.facebook.com|date=2016-08-03|access-date=2019-09-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gloucestertimes.com/sports/local_sports/trailblazer/article_9133c561-c4e0-5ca3-b4d8-c11922fdb141.html|title=Trailblazer|first=Nick Curcuru Sports|last=Editor|access-date=7 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://boston.cbslocal.com/video/category/news/3760646-manchester-essex-player-becomes-football-teams-first-ever-female-kicker/|title=Manchester-Essex Player Becomes Football Team's First Ever Female Kicker|date=10 November 2017|access-date=7 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/high-schools/2017/10/19/emass-girls-gaining-acceptance-gridiron/UsbCrZ7kBBgW14LDLdd2bM/story.html?event=event25event=event25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115034606/http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/high-schools/2017/10/19/emass-girls-gaining-acceptance-gridiron/UsbCrZ7kBBgW14LDLdd2bM/story.html?event=event25event=event25|archive-date=2017-11-15|title=Girls gaining acceptance on Eastern Massachusetts high school football gridirons – The Boston Globe|date=15 November 2017|access-date=7 July 2018}}</ref>
* 2015 – Eleanor Jones: Former Kicker for the Scappoose Indians in Oregon. In 2015, kicked for the Varsity team while simultaneously playing for the school's Women's Varsity Soccer team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://highschoolsports.oregonlive.com/news/article/3500186676833624984/girl-power-scappoose-and-north-bend-each-use-a-female-placekicker-in-their-class-4a-quarterfinal-football-game/|title=Girl power? Scappoose and North Bend each use a female placekicker in their Class 4A quarterfinal football game|access-date=6 June 2014}}</ref>
* 2015 – Kelly Macnamara joined the football team as a kicker during her sophomore year at North Penn High School, in 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/sports/female-high-school-football-kicker-delivers-leveling-hit-thats-gone-viral-girls-can-do-anything-says-coach/|title=Female Football Kicker's Coach Is Proud She Delivered Leveling Hit That's Gone Viral|website=PEOPLE.com}}</ref>
* 2015 – Donna Kay Johnson, first female to play on the middle school team at Central Baldwin Middle (2015) where she played defensive end, defensive tackle . She is currently a sophomore at Robertsdale High Al where she is again the first female player and plays Defensive end and 1st team long snapper for JV .
* 2015 – Savana Melton (Varsity Kicker-Sophomore, Junior, and Senior): North Little Rock, Arkansas, High School 7A – 2nd highest scorer 2015 (56 points); 2016 (89 points). 42 yard Field Goal at Conway High School 2016. First girl to play and score in a 7A State Championship game 2016. First female to be selected to All Arkansas Preps and ArkansasVarsity football teams 2016. Arkansas Activities Association Record Book: Consecutive Extra Points Career (leader with 68) and Miscellaneous – first female to play and score in a state championship game 2016. Leading scorer freshman through junior seasons in varsity soccer and selected to All Arkansas Preps for soccer 2016. All Conference in Soccer and Track.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hudl.com/profile/5561854/savana-melton|title=Savana Melton|website=hudl.com|access-date=2019-09-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://members.ahsaa.org/public/userfiles/Media/recordbook1617.pdf|title=2016-2017 Record Book Arkansas Activities Association|website=members.ahsaa.org|access-date=2019-09-18}}</ref>
* 2016 – Madeleine Northern: A freshman quarterback in 2016 at Badger High School in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. In a pre-season practice, she dislocated her elbow, so she was unable to play for the majority of the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.usafootball.com/blog/700/female-quarterback-madeleine-northern-out-to-prove-she-belongs|title=Female quarterback Madeleine Northern out to prove she belongs|first=Gavin|last=Porter|website=blogs.usafootball.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa1PQ_5u6_E|title=Female quarterback Madeleine Northern out to prove she belongs|via=www.youtube.com}}</ref>
* 2017–present – Alexandria Buchanan, in 2017, became the first female to complete a high school touchdown pass in Hawaii.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maxpreps.com/news/p0r0KBd_G0Cx0Sw3tk4ZEg/hawaii-female-high-school-quarterback-tosses-historic-touchdown.htm|title=Hawaii female high school quarterback tosses historic touchdown|publisher=maxpreps.com|date=August 22, 2017|access-date=October 3, 2017|author=Ostrander, Lynden|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003225423/http://www.maxpreps.com/news/p0r0KBd_G0Cx0Sw3tk4ZEg/hawaii-female-high-school-quarterback-tosses-historic-touchdown.htm|archive-date=October 3, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 2017 – Holly Neher: Gained notoriety in 2017 for being the first female in the state of Florida to throw a touchdown in a high school game, a feat she accomplished on her first pass play and third total play. The touchdown was a 42-yarder.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/high-school/article170628492.html|publisher=[[Miami Herald]]|access-date=September 2, 2017|title=Hollywood Hills quarterback tosses TD on first pass of her career|date=August 31, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/female-high-school-quarterback-throws-td-1st-pass/story?id=49564020|title=Female high school quarterback throws TD on 1st pass in varsity game|website=ABC News}}</ref> After starting the second game, Neher became the first girl to start a high school varsity football game at quarterback in the history of [[Broward County, Florida]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usatodayhss.com/2017/hollywood-hills-fla-junior-holly-neher-may-have-been-the-first-girl-to-start-a-game-at-qb-in-high-school-football-history|publisher=[[USA Today]]|title=Hollywood Hills (Fla.) junior Holly Neher may have been the first girl to start a game at QB in high school football history|first=Cam|last=Smith|date=September 25, 2017|access-date=September 25, 2017}}</ref> She is also believed to be the first female to do so in the entire state of Florida<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/highschool/football/fl-sp-top-performers-20170925-story.html|title=Hollywood Hills QB Holly Neher leads week's top performers|access-date=September 26, 2017|publisher=[[Sun-Sentinel]]|first1=David|last1=Furones|first2=Wells|last2=Dusenbury|date=September 25, 2017}}</ref> and possibly in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/highschool/football/broward/sfl-photos-hollywood-hills-qb-holly-neher-makes-historic-start-20170922-photogallery.html|publisher=[[Sun-Sentinel]]|first=Gary|last=Curreri|access-date=September 24, 2017|date=September 22, 2017|title=Photos: Hollywood Hills' QB Holly Neher makes historic start}}</ref>
* 2017 – Chris’tal Smith earned varsity playing time as both a running back and defensive player at [[Wolfson High School]] as a freshman in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jacksonville.com/sports/high-schools/2017-09-21/chris-tal-smith-female-running-back-jacksonville-s-wolfson-high|date=September 21, 2017|first=Justin|last=Barney|title=Chris'tal Smith, female running back at Jacksonville's Wolfson High, proves she belongs|access-date=September 25, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://jacksonville.com/news/sports/high-schools/2017-09-21/i-m-football-player-says-wolfson-female-running-back-chris-tal|access-date=September 21, 2017|publisher=[[Florida Times-Union]]|date=September 21, 2017|first=Justin|last=Barney|title='I'm a football player,' says Wolfson female running back Chris'tal Smith, who ignored the naysayers}}</ref>
* 2017 – Bree Smith-Cheeks, defensive line player in Maryland. Played in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usatodayhss.com/2017/md-female-not-intimidated-on-gridiron-just-because-they-say-its-a-male-sport-doesnt-mean-girls-cant-play|title=Md. female not intimidated on gridiron: 'Just because they say it's a male sport doesn't mean girls can't play|publisher=usatodayhss.com|date=September 18, 2017|access-date=October 3, 2017|author=Pollitt, Richard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003225351/http://usatodayhss.com/2017/md-female-not-intimidated-on-gridiron-just-because-they-say-its-a-male-sport-doesnt-mean-girls-cant-play|archive-date=October 3, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 2017 – Mackenzie Trotter: In 2017, as a sophomore, played safety at Wade Hampton Highschool in Greenville, South Carolina.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://whhsherald.com/1805/student-life/females-on-the-football-team/|title=Females on the Football Team|publisher=whhsherald.com|date=September 9, 2017|access-date=October 10, 2017|author=Jones, Trea}}</ref>
* 2017 – Alina Nawratil, a Junior Varsity wide receiver from [[Greenville, South Carolina]], sophomore at [[Christ Church Episcopal School]], became the first woman in the [[South Carolina High School League]], scoring a touchdown in a JV high school football game (2017).
* 2017 – Julia Knapp: She played kicker for the South Iredell (N.C.) Vikings in the 2017 football season and was crowned homecoming queen. She hit 46 of 48 PAT attempts and 7 of 10 field goal attempts (long of [https://www.statesville.com/sports/high-school-football-south-iredell-kannapolis/article_799a5884-cc18-11e7-a25d-db8eaceca69c.html 36 yards]) and was selected to the [https://www.statesville.com/sports/all-county-football-south-iredell-quarterback-climbs-into-nchsaa-record/article_f2271880-e696-11e7-a263-1ba9c440f2c8.html all-county football team].<ref>{{cite web|author=Torey Van Oot|url=https://www.refinery29.com/2018/02/188644/julia-knapp-high-school-football-girl-kicker|title=Meet the Girl Who's Changing High School Football|publisher=Refinery29.com|access-date=2019-09-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maxpreps.com/leaders/football-fall-17/offense,scoring/north+carolina/class-3a/VwEp7-dz0kmw0jPvjNJAkg/stat-leaders.htm?classyear=all&position=k|title=North Carolina Class 3A Football (2017) Scoring Stat Leaders – MaxPreps|website=www.maxpreps.com|access-date=2018-12-11}}</ref>
* 2017 – K-Lani Nava, a senior at Strawn High School, kicked 9 extra points for a 78–42 win against Balmorhea High in the 17/18 fall season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2017/12/21/female-kicker-makes-history-in-texas-state-title-game/|title=Female kicker makes history in Texas state title game|first=Post Sports|last=Desk|date=December 21, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/general/news/female-kicker-makes-texas-high-school-football-history-in-state-title-game-win/|title=Female kicker makes Texas high school football history in state title game win|website=CBSSports.com}}</ref>
* 2017 – Riley Aamold, Freshman at Union High School, Full Back and Outside Linebacker, First female in the region's 4A football history to score a touchdown (32 yards).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.maxpreps.com/games/10-5-2017/freshman-football-fall-17/battle-ground-vs-union.htm?c=o1fiCfQ1sE2Mtz0FKGEtXg#tab=matchup&schoolid=|title=Union vs Battle Ground &#124; Freshman Football &#124; 10/5/2017 &#124; MaxPreps|website=www.maxpreps.com}}</ref>
* 2018 – Madi Martin, first female on her high school's varsity football team at Carroll High School in Southlake, Texas, in 2018. She played kicker in freshman year and sophomore year and is now playing cornerback and safety.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2018/08/25/high-school-teen-first-female-football-player-southlake-carroll/|title=High School Teen Suits Up As Team's First Female Football Player|date=August 25, 2018}}</ref>
* 2018 – Kaylee Foster, in 2018, kicked the winning extra point for Ocean Springs Highschool in overtime after winning homecoming queen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWuI6XWEkJo|title=Female high school football player crowned homecoming queen|via=www.youtube.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000961625/article/kaylee-foster-clutch-kicker-homecoming-queen-viral-star|title=Kaylee Foster: Clutch kicker, homecoming queen & viral star|website=NFL.com}}</ref>
* 2018 – Sydney Baldwin: A sophomore kicker, first girl to play football for Division 5A J.L. Mann High School in Greenville, South Carolina. Starter on varsity team.
*2018 Mika Makekau: Placekicker for Iolani School in Honolulu, Hawaii. Set the state record for longest field goal (44 yards) by a female kicker.<ref>{{Citation|title='Iolani's Mika Makekau sets girls FG distance mark|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaNhuTuWqE0|language=en|access-date=2019-09-09}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.hawaiiprepworld.com/featured/iolanis-mika-makekau-becomes-la-vernes-1st-female-football-player/|title='Iolani's Mika Makekau becomes La Verne's 1st female football player|last1=April 17|first1=Paul Honda on|last2=2019 {{!}}|website=www.hawaiiprepworld.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-09}}</ref>
*2019 Molly Virtue: Linebacker and kicker for Taylor Allderdice Highschool in Pittsburgh, PA;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theforeword.org/592/sports/carli-lloyd-and-molly-virtue-women-in-football/|title=Carli Lloyd and Molly Virtue: Women in Football|last=Segel|first=Abigail|website=The Foreword|access-date=2020-02-02}}</ref> Breana Gerst" Kicker for West Allegheny HS In Pittsburgh
*2019 Kaysan Frueh: Varsity kicker and punter for Issaquah High School, a 4A school in Washington. She was the first female to perform kick-offs and punts at her high school.
*2021 - Lilli Rick, junior and starting kicker for Janesville Craig High School, kicked an extra point in a varsity game against Oconomowoc High School on August 20th, 2021.
*2021- Ivy Tolbert, Sophomore starting kicker for Commerce High School, kicked an extra point and 25 yard field goal against Banks County High School on August 20th, 2021. <ref>{{Cite web|last=Dennis|first=Ryne|title=Commerce kicker Ivy Tolbert makes history. How she joined the Tigers & nailed her first kicks|url=https://www.onlineathens.com/story/sports/high-school/football/2021/08/25/commerce-football-kicker-ivy-tolbert-makes-history/5570686001/|access-date=2021-09-03|website=Online Athens|language=en-US}}</ref>
*2021 – Morein Ibrahim, senior OL/DL lineman for Frederick High School in Frederick, Maryland. The first female in Frederick County history to play in a Varsity Football game. September 17th, 2021.
*2021 - Morgan 'Anna' DeCaprio: varsity starting long snapper for Issaquah High School, a 4A school in Washington. She was the first female to perform long snapping at her high school. She played football from middle school through high school.
*2021 - Abigail DiCenzo: sophomore runningback and linebacker for Bell Creek Academy. She became the first female to rush for a varsity touchdown in a game, vs Berean Christian on September 24th, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Abby DiCenzo makes Florida High school football history|url=https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/sports/2021/10/29/abby-dicenzo-becomes-first-girl-to-score-rushing-td-in-florida-high-school-history|access-date=2021-11-02|website=www.baynews9.com|language=en}}</ref>

===College===

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 (American football)|holder]] positions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2012/11/08/sam-gordon-9-year-old-girl-is-already-a-football-star-video/|title=Sam Gordon, 9-year-old girl, is already a football star|last=Boren|first=Cindy|date=November 8, 2012|work=Washington Post|access-date=November 9, 2012}}</ref> Both positions are rarely involved in the full contact present in American football.

* Ashley Baker: Former college football placekicker at [[Framingham State University]]<ref name="Baker">{{cite news|title=Baker gets her kicks, sets female mark at D-III school|first=Elliott|last=Jones|newspaper=USA Today|date=November 13, 2007|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2007-11-08-female-kicker_N.htm|access-date=November 26, 2011}}</ref>
* KaLena "Beanie" Barnes: Former punter, and first woman to play on a top ten ranked Division I-A team, for the [[University of Nebraska-Lincoln|University of Nebraska]].<ref name="LincolnJournalStar">{{cite news|title=Beanie does it all|first=Brian|last=Christopherson|newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star|date=November 10, 2006|url=http://journalstar.com/news/local/beanie-does-it-all/article_49f86c25-0d9a-5b4d-8443-0219d373c072.html}}</ref>
* [[Tonya Butler]]: First woman to score a [[Field goal (American and Canadian football)|field goal]] in an NCAA game<ref name="WestAL2">{{cite news|title=UWA's Tonya Butler aims for NCAA history|first=Andrew|last=Carroll|newspaper=The Tuscaloosa News|date=September 14, 2000|page=C1|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IyAfAAAAIBAJ&pg=2049%2C2812065|access-date=November 25, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Tonya2">{{cite news|title=Pioneer still gets her football kicks|first=Karen|last=Rosen|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=October 17, 2003|page=8D}}</ref>
* Hillary Carter: Former college football placekicker at [[Earlham College]]<ref name="Baker"/>
* Anna Zerilli: Kicker at [[Lake Forest College]]. First female to play on male football team in school history. Became first to play in the conference and first female to play college football in the Midwest.
* Rachael Evans: Former junior college football place kicker at [[Minnesota West Community and Technical College]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cleburnetimesreview.com/sports/godley-s-evans-continues-to-defy-the-odds-continuing-her/article_c0512620-2493-11e4-bfd5-001a4bcf887a.html|title=Godley's Evans continues to defy the odds, continuing her football career at the next level|website=Cleburnetimesreview.com|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dglobe.com/content/minnesota-west-kicking-it-guys|title=Minnesota West: Kicking it with the guys|website=Dglobe.com|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://cleatgeeks.com/blog/2016/02/03/women-of-sports-rachael-evans/|title=Women of Sports: Rachael Evans|date=3 February 2016|website=Cleatgeeks.com|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.njcaa.org/sports/fball/2015-16/players/rachaelevans5obg|title=NJCAA|website=Njcaa.org|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.njcaa.org/sports/fball/2014-15/players/rachelevans1597|title=NJCAA|website=Njcaa.org|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref>
* [[Sarah Fuller (athlete)|Sarah Fuller]]: First woman to play in a [[Power Five conferences|Power Five]] football game; she took the opening kickoff of the second half of a game.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vanderbilt kicker Sarah Fuller makes history as first woman to play in a Power Five college football game |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/vanderbilt-kicker-sarah-fuller-makes-history-as-the-first-woman-to-play-in-a-power-five-college-football-game/ |website=CBSSports.com |access-date=November 28, 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/30401770/vanderbilt-kicker-sarah-fuller-suit-vs-missouri-saturday-make-history|title=Vanderbilt kicker Sarah Fuller to suit up vs. Missouri on Saturday, can make history|website=[[ESPN]]|date=27 November 2020|access-date=November 28, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/vanderbilts-sarah-fuller-woman-play-power-football-game/story?id=74433952|title=Vanderbilt's Sarah Fuller could be first woman to play in Power 5 football game|website=[[ABC News]]|access-date=November 28, 2020}}</ref> In a separate game, she became the first woman to score a point in a Power Five football game.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vanderbilt kicker Sarah Fuller makes history again as first woman to score points in Power Five game |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/vanderbilt-kicker-sarah-fuller-makes-history-again-as-first-woman-to-score-points-in-power-five-game/ |website=CBSSports.com |access-date=December 12, 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[April Goss]]: Former college football placekicker at [[Kent State University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/_/id/540816/april-goss|title=April Goss|website=ESPN.com|access-date=7 July 2018}}</ref>
* [[Toni Harris]]: First woman football player to receive a full college scholarship offer at [[Central Methodist University]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/college-football/2019/02/27/female-football-player-toni-harris-makes-history-college-scholarship-offer|title=Female football player makes history with scholarship offer|last=Caron|first=Emily|date=February 27, 2019|website=Sports Illustrated|language=en|access-date=2019-02-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/sports/toni-harris-football-full-scholarship-cancer/|title=Female College Football Player Gets Full Football Scholarship After Cancer Battle|website=PEOPLE.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-27}}</ref>
* [[Liz Heaston]]: First woman to play and score in a [[college football]] [[1997 Linfield vs. Willamette football game|game]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E03EFDD163EF933A15753C1A961958260|work=The New York Times|title=Woman Kicks Extra Points|date=October 20, 1997|access-date=May 11, 2010}}</ref>
* [[Katie Hnida]]: First woman to score in an NCAA Division I-A game<ref name="Archived copy">{{cite web |url=http://www.golobos.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/hnida_katie00.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-10-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100810170846/http://www.golobos.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/hnida_katie00.html |archive-date=2010-08-10 }} (2-2 PATs, New Mexico vs. Texas State, 8/30/03)</ref><ref name=Thompson>{{cite news|title=Denver Post|first=Adam|last=Thompson|newspaper=Denver Post|date=October 17, 2000|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DP&p_theme=dp&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAF45920AE0C880&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=November 3, 2010}}</ref>
* Reina Iizuka: First woman to appear on a [[U Sports football|U Sports (Canadian) football]] roster; DB/LB for the [[University of Manitoba]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.universityaffairs.ca/news/news-article/meet-reina-iizuka-the-first-woman-on-the-roster-of-a-usports-mens-football-team/|title=Meet Reina Iizuka, the first woman on the roster of a USports men's football team}}</ref>
*Mika Makekau: College football placekicker at the [[University of La Verne]]. Made a 26-yard field goal against No. 11 Whitworth on September 7, 2019.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite journal|url=https://leopardathletics.com/sports/fball/2019-20/releases/20190908lrfxit|title=Football Edged by No. 11 Whitworth in Opener|date=2019-09-07|website=La Verne|language=en|access-date=2019-09-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailybulletin.com/first-female-kicker-joins-university-of-la-verne-football-team|title=First female kicker joins University of La Verne football team|date=2019-08-23|website=Daily Bulletin|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-09}}</ref>
* [[Ashley Martin]]: First woman to score in an NCAA game<ref name=Reaves>{{cite news|title=Female kicker 3-for-3 in Division I football debut|first=Jay|last=Reaves|newspaper=CBC sports|date=August 31, 2001|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2001/08/31/martin010831.html|access-date=November 3, 2010}}</ref>
* Joyce Mungari: Former college linebacker and special teams player at Monterey Peninsula and Contra Costa Junior Colleges<ref>{{cite web|last=Lawlor|first=Christopher|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/preps/football/2005-10-13-notes_x.htm|title=USATODAY.com – Woman aims to coach college football team|publisher=Usatoday30.usatoday.com|date=2005-10-19|access-date=2013-10-21}}</ref>
* Shelby Osborne: Became 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wave3.com/story/25695271/groundbreaking-football-player-signs-to-play-in-college|title=Groundbreaking football player signs to play in college|first=Janelle|last=McDonald|publisher=[[WAVE (TV)|WAVE-TV]]|location=Louisville, Kentucky|date=June 4, 2014|access-date=August 14, 2014}}</ref>
* Brittany Ryan: Former college football placekicker at [[Lebanon Valley College]] and current scoring leader among women in the NCAA<ref name="Ryan">{{cite news|title=Kickers form bond and find sorority|first=George|last=Vecsey|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 8, 2010|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/09/sports/ncaafootball/09vecsey.html|access-date=November 26, 2011}}</ref>
* Morgan Salzwedel: College football placekicker at [[California Lutheran University]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.clusports.com/sports/fball/2017-18/releases/20171013mzj400|title=Salzwedel Makes History as First Female Football Player at CLU|date=2017-10-13|work=California Lutheran University|access-date=2017-10-26|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/10/19/female-football-player-from-bay-area-makes-history/|title=Female football player from Bay Area makes history|date=2017-10-19|work=The Mercury News|access-date=2017-10-26|language=en-US}}</ref>
* Morgan Smith: College football placekicker at [[Franklin Pierce Ravens|Franklin Pierce]]. Scored her first extra point against [[Curry Colonels|Curry College]] on 14 September 2019, and would go 8 for 12 on extra points and make a field goal from 31 yards during the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2019-09-16/how-morgan-smith-became-first-woman-northeast-10-history-score|title=How Morgan Smith became the first woman in Northeast-10 history to score a point in DII football|website=ncaa.com|access-date=31 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fpuravens.com/sports/fball/2019-20/bios/smith_morgan?view=gamelog&pos=k|title=Morgan Smith|website=fpuravens.com|access-date=31 January 2020}}</ref>
*Maria del Carmen Sacristan Benjet:<ref>{{Cite web|title=2020 WPI Football Roster - WPI Athletics - WPI Athletics|url=https://athletics.wpi.edu/sports/fball/2020-21/roster?view=headshot|access-date=2021-04-21|website=athletics.wpi.edu}}</ref> College football WR at [[Worcester Polytechnic Institute]]
*Abi Sweger: College football placekicker at [[Lebanon Valley College]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://godutchmen.com/sports/football/roster/abi-sweger/14711|title=Abi Sweger - Football}}</ref>Division 3, scored her first PAT in 2021.

===Semi-professional===

* [[Julie Harshbarger]]: first woman to make a successful field goal in a professional indoor football game (2010–present)<ref name="harshbarger">{{cite web|url=http://www.rrstar.com/carousel/x370835817/Hononegah-grad-Harshbarger-makes-indoor-football-history|title=Hononegah grad Harshbarger makes indoor football history|publisher=Rockford Register-Star|work=RRStar.com|date=June 30, 2010|access-date=January 4, 2012|author=Goodman, Doug|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909134643/http://www.rrstar.com/carousel/x370835817/Hononegah-grad-Harshbarger-makes-indoor-football-history|archive-date=September 9, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Katie Hnida]]: first woman to play professional [[indoor American football|indoor football]] in a non-women's league (1999–2004).
* [[Patricia Palinkas]]: first woman to play [[Professional football (gridiron)|professional football]] (1970)<ref name="ap-palinkas">Associated Press (September 4, 1970). "First woman to earn place on pro grid team is also suspended." Retrieved December 25, 2010.</ref>
* Lauren Silberman: first woman to try out at the [[NFL Scouting Combine|NFL Regional Scouting Combine]] (2013)<ref>{{cite web|last=Waszak|first=Dennis|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/female-kickers-nfl-tryout-lasts-222419569--nfl.html|title=Female kicker's NFL tryout lasts all of 2 kicks|publisher=[[Yahoo! Sports]]|date=2013-03-03|access-date=2013-03-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.app.com/article/20130303/NJSPORTS0310/303030059/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150117200954/http://archive.app.com/article/20130303/NJSPORTS0310/303030059/|title=NFL Football &#124; The Asbury Park Press NJ &#124; app.com|access-date=2015-01-13|archive-date=2015-01-17|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cjonline.com/stories/071407/loc_184321666.shtml#.Wd6eZWnyuUk|title=Ex-Koyotes kicker gives her side of story|publisher=cjonline.com|date=July 14, 2007|access-date=October 11, 2017|author=Dean, Rick}}</ref>
* [[Jennifer Welter]]: first woman to play a non-kicking position in a professional football league made up predominately by men. (2014)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/men-action/201402/groundbreaking-woman-makes-history-playing-pro-football-game|publisher=ThePostGame.com|title=Running Back Jennifer Welter Makes History By Playing In Pro Football Game|date=February 17, 2014|access-date=February 17, 2014}}</ref>

===In predominantly women's leagues===

====Players in traditional ("full pads") tackle football leagues====
* Malissa Miles: Wide receiver, Los Angeles Temptation, LFL (2016–present: Active Roster). Trained and coached ABC's The Bachelorette contestants in 2018 season. Founder of Miles Strong Youth Football Foundation, which specializes in teaching girls how to play football.
* Mana Alison: Wide receiver, [[Carolina Phoenix]] (2014–present), [[California Quake]] (2012–2013). Played for [[Sweden women's national American football team|Team Sweden]] at the [[2013 IFAF Women's World Championship]]. Designer and founder of Breaking Boundaries Apparel.
* Lakatriona "Bernice" Brunson: Lineman, linebacker, fullback, [[Miami Fury]]. First female high school head football coach in the state of Florida. Star of the reality TV show ''[[South Beach Tow]]''.
* Allison Cahill: Quarterback, [[Boston Renegades|Boston Renegades (WFA)]] (2003, 2005–present). First quarterback in history to amass 100 career victories playing exclusively in women's football leagues.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cahill Notches 100th Career Victory|url=http://bostonrenegadesfootball.com/cahill-notches-100th-career-victory/|website=bostonrenegadesfootball.com|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref>
* Linda Caruso: Linebacker, Mass Mutiny (2002–2007). Contestant on ABC's [[The Benefactor (TV series)|The Benefactor]].
* Carole Duffy: Running back, Pittsburgh Powderkegs (1969–1971). Third of four women inducted into the American Football Association Hall of Fame.<ref name="americanfootballassn.com">{{cite web|title=American Football Association Semi-Pro Hall of Fame|url=http://www.americanfootballassn.com/hall-of-fame.html|website=Americanfootballassn.com|access-date=29 November 2014}}</ref>
* [[Sami Grisafe]]: Quarterback, [[Chicago Force]] (2007–present). 2013 [[Women's Football Alliance|WFA]] National Champion and game MVP. Two-time gold medalist for Team USA in the [[2010 IFAF Women's World Championship|2010]] and [[2013 IFAF Women's World Championship]]. Musician and songwriter.
* Rae Hodge: Kicker/wide receiver, Pittsburgh Powderkegs (1971). One of the first two women inducted into the American Football Association Hall of Fame.<ref name="americanfootballassn.com"/>
* [[Linda Jefferson]]: Running back, Toledo Troopers (1972–1979). One of only four women inducted into the American Football Association Hall of Fame.<ref name="americanfootballassn.com"/> Named the 1975 Athlete of the Year by [[womenSports]], the first magazine dedicated exclusively to covering women in sports. Seven-time national champion ([[Women's American football#Defunct|WPFL, NWFL]]); posted five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons rushing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/Movies/2013/06/16/Remembering-Toledo-s-Troopers.html|title=Remembering Toledo's Troopers|date=16 June 2013|website=Toledo Blade|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref>
* [[Anita Marks]]: Quarterback, [[Miami Fury]] (2000–2002), Florida Stingrays (2003). Television and radio sports reporter/commentator.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anitamarks.com/bio.htm|title=Anita Marks Biography|publisher=Anitamarks.com|access-date=2012-07-10}}</ref>
* [[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).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/ice-hockey-pashkevich-trades-american-football-olympic-dream-165525323--nhl.html|title=Ice Hockey – Pashkevich trades American football for Olympic dream}}</ref>
* Barbara Patton: Linebacker, Los Angeles Dandelions (1973–1975). Mother of NFL linebacker [[Marvcus Patton]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1996-01-22/local/me-27421_1_home-field|title=Rare Blooms in the Field of Athletics|first=Cecilia|last=Rasmussen|date=22 January 1996|website=Articles.latimes.com|access-date=6 March 2017|via=LA Times}}</ref>
* [[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]], [[Richmond Black Widows]] (2009–present). Gold medalist for Team USA [[2013 IFAF Women's World Championship]]. Founder of [[Richmond Black Widows]] football club.
* Jenny Schmidt: Quarterback, Kansas City Tribe. 2009 [[Independent Women's Football League|IWFL]] World Champion. 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 [[Top Chef (season 2)|Season 2]] and [[Top Chef (season 10)|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 IFAF Women's World Championship|2010]], [[2013 IFAF Women's World Championship|2013]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dcdivas.com/team/players/profiles/donna-wilkinson-2014-profile/|title=Donna Wilkinson 2014 Profile|date=18 January 2014|website=Dcdivas.com|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref>
* [[Alissa Wykes]]: Running back, [[Philadelphia Liberty Belles]]. [[National Women's Football Association|NWFA]] MVP in 2001. Came out as a lesbian in December/January 2002 edition of [[Sports Illustrated for Women]].
* Whitney Zelee: Running back, [[Boston Militia]]/[[Boston Renegades (WFA)|Renegades]] (2011–present). In 2013, eclipsed the 2,000-yard benchmark and set a new record of 2,128 rushing yards over an eight-game season, earning her conference MVP honors.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Staffieri|first1=Mark|title=Whitney Zelee Emerging as the Finest Running Back in All of Women's Football|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1675886-whitney-zelee-emerging-as-the-finest-running-back-in-all-of-womens-football|website=Bleacher Report|publisher=Bleacher Report|access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> Holds [[Women's Football Alliance|WFA]] record for most touchdowns in one game (8 vs D.C. Divas on May 18, 2013). Two-time [[Women's Football Alliance|WFA]] National Champion and game MVP (2011, 2014).

==Other notable women in football==
===Coaches===
*[[Callie Brownson]]: first female to coach an NFL position group in a regular season game in 2020<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/nfl/news/12118/12146584/cleveland-browns-callie-brownson-becomes-first-female-nfl-position-coach|title=Cleveland Browns: Callie Brownson becomes first female NFL position coach|website=Sky Sports|date=November 29, 2020|accessdate=December 7, 2020}}</ref>
*[[Lakatriona Brunson]]: first female coach in the state of [[Florida]], head coach of [[Miami Jackson High School]] football team in 2016<ref>{{cite news |title=Lakatriona Brunson is Florida's 1st female head football coach |url=https://www.espn.com/espnw/sports/story/_/id/14742891/lakatriona-brunson-reality-tv-show-south-beach-tow-named-florida-first-female-head-football-coach |website=ESPN.com |date=February 8, 2016 |access-date=March 2, 2021}}</ref>
*[[Maral Javadifar]]: assistant strength and conditioning coach for the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] in 2019; first female coach, with Lori Locust, to win a Super Bowl<ref name="SB">{{cite news |title=Bucs' Maral Javadifar, Lori Locust 1st female coaches to win Super Bowl |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/bucs-maral-javadifar-lori-locust-1st-female-coaches-to-win-super-bowl |website=NFL.com |date=February 8, 2021 |access-date=February 25, 2021}}</ref>
*[[Jennifer King]]: first black full-time female NFL coach, assistant running backs coach for the [[Washington Football Team]] in 2021<ref>{{cite news |title=Washington's Jennifer King will be first Black woman to be full-time NFL coach |url=https://nypost.com/2021/01/22/washingtons-jennifer-king-will-be-first-black-woman-to-be-full-time-nfl-coach/ |website=NewYorkPost.com |date=January 22, 2021 |access-date=March 2, 2021}}</ref>
*[[Marjorie Herrera Lewis]]: coached defensive backs at [[Texas Wesleyan University]] in 2017, making her the only female college football coach at any level that year<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fortworthbusiness.com/news/briefs/toughing-it-out-texas-wesleyan-female-football-coach-takes-the-field/article_6fb7b0c0-cfd6-11e7-a1e5-4bda2f40a533.html|title=Toughing it out: Texas Wesleyan female football coach takes the field|last=Correspondent|first=Rick Mauch FWBP|website=Fortworthbusiness.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-22}}</ref>
*[[Lori Locust]]: third full-time female NFL coach, assistant defensive line coach for the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] in 2019;<ref>{{cite news |author=Fitzpatrick, Frank |title=Philly-born Temple product Lori Locust makes history as a female NFL coach even if that wasn't her goal |url=https://www.inquirer.com/eagles/lori-locust-nfl-coach-tampa-bay-buccaneers-bruce-arians-temple-20190617.html |website=Inquirer.com |date=June 17, 2019 |access-date=February 25, 2021}}</ref> first female coach, with Maral Javadifar, to win a Super Bowl<ref name="SB"/>
*[[Dot Murphy]]: first female football coach in [[National Junior College Athletic Association]] history in 1984<ref>{{cite news |author=Baker, Lee |title=Dot Murphy is new assistant at Hinds JC |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72482297/clarion-ledger/ |newspaper=The Clarion-Ledger |via=Newspapers.com |date=August 17, 1984 |access-date=March 2, 2021}}</ref>
*[[Kathryn Smith (American football)|Kathryn Smith]]: first full-time female NFL coach, special teams quality control coach for the [[Buffalo Bills]] in 2016<ref>{{cite news |author=Rodak, Mike |title=Kathryn Smith hired by Bills as NFL's first female full-time coach |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/14614558/kathryn-smith-hired-buffalo-bills-nfl-first-full-female-assistant |website=ESPN.com |date=January 20, 2016 |access-date=March 2, 2021}}</ref>
* [[Katie Sowers]]: second full-time female NFL coach, offensive assistant for the [[San Francisco 49ers]] in 2019; first openly LGBT NFL coach;<ref>{{cite web|last1=Wagoner|first1=Nick|title=San Francisco 49ers hire first female assistant coach, who is also first openly gay NFL assistant|url=http://www.espn.com/espnw/sports/article/20433721/san-francisco-49ers-hire-first-female-assistant-coach-first-openly-gay-nfl-assistant|website=espnW|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|access-date=5 December 2017|date=3 November 2017}}</ref> first female coach to reach the Super Bowl
*Mikki St. Germain: youth football coach in [[California]]<ref>{{cite news |author=Percy, Nathan |title=Pushing the comfort zone: Mikki St. Germain is proving football isn't just a man's game |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2015/10/14/pushing-the-comfort-zone-mikki-st-germain-is-proving-football-isnt-just-a-mans-game/ |website=OCRegister.com |date=October 14, 2015 |access-date=March 2, 2021}}</ref>
*Jennifer Stango: first female high school football coach in [[Connecticut]] in 2012<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2013/09/29/sports/redzone/747326.txt|title=Mark Jaffee; Republican American|publisher=www.rep-am.com|date=2013-08-31|access-date=2015-04-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304185943/http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2013/09/29/sports/redzone/747326.txt|archive-date=2016-03-04|url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Jennifer Welter]]: first female assistant coach in the NFL, assistant coaching intern for the [[Arizona Cardinals]] in 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Cardinals-Add-First-Female-Coach/aa370599-8d8e-4e73-85d3-fc77515bf40a|title=Cardinals Add First Female Coach|website=Azcardinals.com|access-date=6 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150729010459/http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Cardinals-Add-First-Female-Coach/aa370599-8d8e-4e73-85d3-fc77515bf40a|archive-date=29 July 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Commentators===
* [[Erin Andrews]]: [[FOX Sports]] reporter for NFL<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/2009/10/27/andrews_erin/|title=Erin Andrews &#124; ESPN MediaZone|publisher=Espnmediazone3.com|date=2009-10-27|access-date=2012-07-10|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923184800/http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/2009/10/27/andrews_erin/|archive-date=2011-09-23}}</ref>
* [[Jane Chastain]]: first woman to provide color commentary for a National Football League game
* [[Beth Mowins]]: ESPN college football and NFL play-by-play announcer
* [[Robin Roberts (newscaster)|Robin Roberts]]: ESPN commentator and reporter
* [[Gayle Sierens]]: first 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===
* [[Dawn Aponte]]: Chief administrator of football operations for the NFL
* Linda Wilson Bogdan (1948–2009): Daughter of [[Buffalo Bills]] owner [[Ralph Wilson]], second female scout in professional football
* [[Connie Carberg]]: First female scout in professional football history, with the [[New York Jets]]
* [[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<ref>Weird Facts about Canadian Football, p.134, Overtime Books, First Printing 2009, {{ISBN|978-1-897277-26-3}}</ref>
* [[Amy Trask]]: Chief executive officer of the [[Oakland Raiders]]
* [[Linda McMahon]]: Chief executive officer of [[WWE]] during its operation of the [[XFL (2001)]]

===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, sisters and daughters of deceased owners receiving NFL teams as part of an inheritance.

* [[Amy Adams Strunk]]: Current owner of the [[Tennessee Titans]]
* [[Jody Allen]]: Executor of the trust managing the [[Seattle Seahawks]] following her brother [[Paul Allen]]'s death
* [[Gayle Benson]]: Current owner of the [[New Orleans Saints]]
* [[Violet Bidwill Wolfner]]: Former owner of [[Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59)|Chicago Cardinals]], first female NFL owner in league history
* [[Carol Davis (American football)|Carol Davis]]: Current co-owner of the [[Oakland Raiders]]<ref>{{cite web|author=Dan Pompei|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-11-11/sports/0711100410_1_amy-trask-davis-plan-succession-plan|title=Raiders' succession plan a mystery|work=Chicago Tribune|date=2007-11-11|access-date=2012-07-10}}</ref>
* [[Denise DeBartolo York]]: Current co-owner of the [[San Francisco 49ers]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sf49ers.com/team/front_office_detail.php?PRKey=1|title=Denise DeBartolo York - Owner|date=2007-09-27|access-date=2012-07-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508224129/http://www.sf49ers.com/team/front_office_detail.php?PRKey=1|archive-date=2008-05-08|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Martha Firestone Ford]]: Former owner of the [[Detroit Lions]]
* [[Sheila Ford Hamp]]: Current owner of the Detroit Lions
* [[Georgia Frontiere]]: Former owner of the [[St. Louis Rams]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Kuriloff|first=Aaron|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a26ilJGA_uNw|title=Rams Owner Georgia Frontiere Dies at 80 of Cancer (Update1)|publisher=Bloomberg|date=2008-01-18|access-date=2012-07-10}}</ref>
* [[Dany Garcia]]: Current co-owner of the [[XFL (2020)]]<ref name=newxflowners>{{cite news |title= Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson buys XFL for $15 million with partner Redbird Capital, per report |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-buys-xfl-for-15-million-with-partner-redbird-capital-per-report/ |first=Jeff|last=Kerr|publisher=CBSSports.com |date=August 2, 2020 |access-date=August 2, 2020}}</ref>
* [[Virginia Halas McCaskey]]: Current owner of the [[Chicago Bears]]<ref>{{cite web|author=Adam Fusfeld|url=http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-01-19/sports/30036328_1_virginia-halas-mccaskey-chicago-bears-collegiate-football-player|title=Meet The 88-Year-Old Grandmother Who's One Win Away From The Super Bowl – Business Insider|publisher=Articles.businessinsider.com|date=2011-01-19|access-date=2012-07-10|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118172524/http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-01-19/sports/30036328_1_virginia-halas-mccaskey-chicago-bears-collegiate-football-player|archive-date=2013-01-18|url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Sharon Hunt Munson: Current co-owner of the [[Kansas City Chiefs]]
* Linda McMahon: Part-owner of the [[XFL (2001)]]
* [[Kim Pegula]]: Pending majority owner of the [[Buffalo Bills]]
* Mary McLean Wilson: Executor of the trust that owned the [[Buffalo Bills]] following her husband [[Ralph Wilson]]'s death

===Referees===
* [[Shannon Eastin]]: First woman to officiate an NFL game (2012)
* [[Sarah Thomas (American football official)|Sarah Thomas]]: First permanent game official in professional football (UFL 2009, NFL 2015)
** Also first woman to officiate a [[Super Bowl]] (2021)

==Fictional==
These are noteworthy fictional appearances of women in football.
* Shannon Beiste, head football coach fictional McKinley High School: played by [[Dot-Marie Jones]] on the television series ''[[Glee (TV 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 (film)|Necessary Roughness]]''
* Emily Durabo, tight end in the fictional Tennessee Coastal League in the multimedia story ''[[17776]]''
* Dizzy Flores, quarterback in SciFi movie ''[[Starship Troopers (film)|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 (film)|Wildcats]]''
* Nancy McGunnel, running back who plays for Wyoming in the multimedia story ''[[17776]]''
* Christina Pagniacci, owner fictional Miami Sharks: played by [[Cameron Diaz]] in the 1999 film ''[[Any Given Sunday]]''
* Becky "Icebox" O'Shea, main character in comedy film ''[[Little Giants]]'': played by [[Shawna Waldron]]
* Doris Sherman, owner of fictional Orlando Breakers: played by [[Katherine Helmond]] on the television series ''[[Coach (TV series)|Coach]]''.
* [[List of Pepper Ann characters#Pepper Ann Pearson|Pepper Ann Pearson]], placekicker fictional Hazelnut Middle School: voiced by [[Kathleen Wilhoite]] in the television series ''[[Pepper Ann]]''


==See also==
==See also==
* [[List of female American football teams]]
* [[Women's American football]]
* [[Women's American football]]


Line 229: Line 100:
* [http://iwflsports.com/ Independent Women's Football League official website]
* [http://iwflsports.com/ Independent Women's Football League official website]
* [http://www.wfafootball.com/ Women's Football Alliance official website]
* [http://www.wfafootball.com/ Women's Football Alliance official website]
* [http://wsflfootball.net/ Women's Spring Football League official website]
* [http://wsflfootball.net/ Women's Spring Football League official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424095959/http://www.wsflfootball.net/ |date=April 24, 2012 }}
* [http://www.lflus.com/ Lingerie Football League official website]
* [http://www.lflus.com/ Lingerie Football League official website]


Latest revision as of 23:24, 9 November 2024

Main article: Women's gridiron football

Women's gridiron football (including American football and Canadian football) is a form of the sport played by women. Most leagues in the United States, such as the Women's Football Alliance, play by rules similar to men's tackle football.[1] Although women's flag football is emerging as a collegiate sport,[2] women playing gridiron football at the college level have historically joined men's teams, often (though not exclusively) as placekickers.[3]

The following is a list of some of the most notable female American football players.

Players in predominantly male football leagues

[edit]

Players in predominantly female football leagues

[edit]

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

1960s and 1970s

[edit]
  • Marcella Sanborn – Quarterback, Cleveland Daredevils (from 1967), called "the first true 'star' of women's football",[26] playing for the first women's tackle football team.[27][26] Named Bud Collins's Athlete of the Year for 1967 in The Boston Globe.[28]
  • Linda Jefferson – Halfback, Toledo Troopers (1972–1979), seven-time national champions (WPFL, NWFL).[29] One of only four women inducted into the American Football Association Hall of Fame.[30][31] Named the 1975 Athlete of the Year by womenSports, the first magazine dedicated exclusively to covering women in sports.[30] Posted five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons rushing.[30]
  • Barbara Patton – Linebacker, Los Angeles Dandelions (1973–1975). In 1974, Patton was featured in a nationally syndicated newspaper article ("Mom, 32, Tries Football"), as linebacker, PBX operator, and single mother of two children, including her son Marvcus, age 7.[32] Throughout his career as an NFL linebacker, Marvcus Patton went on to frequently mention the influence of his mother Barbara as a former linebacker herself.[33][34]

21st century

[edit]

College players

[edit]

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.[47] Both positions are rarely involved in the full contact present in American football.

Placekickers

[edit]
  • Liz Heaston – First woman to play and score in a college football game, kicking two extra points on October 18, 1997, as a placekicker with the Willamette Bearcats in the NAIA.[7][48] A star soccer player, Heaston had been recruited as a replacement for the injured starting kicker, and had trained with the team for three weeks;[48] she played in only one other football game for Willamette.[11]
  • Ashley Martin – Second female athlete to score in a college football game, and the first to score in an NCAA Division I game on August 30, 2001, as a placekicker for Jacksonville State University.[49][7] She kicked three extra points in a game against Cumberland University;[11] JSU was then in Division I-AA, which later became known as FCS.[7]
  • Katie Hnida – First woman to score in an NCAA Division I-A football game on August 30, 2003, as a placekicker for the University of New Mexico, kicking two points against Texas State University.[7][50] Also the first woman to appear in a bowl game, at the 2002 Las Vegas Bowl against UCLA, during which her extra point attempt was blocked.[7] (See also "Players in predominantly male football leagues" above.)
  • Tonya Butler – First woman to score a field goal in an NCAA game on September 27, 2003, while playing for the University of West Alabama Tigers in Division II as a graduate student.[51][52] By 2004, Butler had scored 87 career points, setting an NCAA record for a female kicker.[7]
  • Brittany Ryan – Scored 100 career points as placekicker for Lebanon Valley College of NCAA Division III in 2010, breaking Tonya Butler's record for most career points scored by a female player in the NCAA.[53][7]
  • Sarah Fuller – First woman to play in a Power Five football game on November 28, 2020, after taking the opening kickoff of the second half for the Vanderbilt Commodores football team who were playing Missouri.[54] Fuller was a starting goalkeeper on the Vanderbilt women's soccer team, who had won the SEC Championship title the previous weekend;[54] she tried out for the men's football team on the Monday before the game, because they were short of specialists due to COVID-19 testing, and needed a kicker.[55] On December 12, 2020, Fuller became the first woman to score a point in a Power Five football game, after kicking an extra point in a Vanderbilt game against Tennessee.[56]
  • April Goss: Former college football placekicker at Kent State University.[57]
  • KaLena "Beanie" Barnes: Former punter, and first woman to play on a top ten ranked Division I-A team, for the University of Nebraska.[58]
  • Leilani Armenta: Placekicker for the Jackson State Tigers. First woman to score in an HBCU game, scoring three extra points in an October 29, 2023 game against Arkansas Pine-Bluff.[59]
  • Madison Barch: First woman to score non-kicking points in college football at any level (NCAA, NAIA, etc.), caught a two-point conversion in an NCAA Division III game at Trine University on November 11, 2023. A placekicker for the Kalamazoo College Hornets, Barch finished her career making 35-of-41 extra point attempts.[60]

Other positions

[edit]

High school players

[edit]

Pre-2000

[edit]
  • Luverne "Toad" Wise – First female player to score in an American football game, as a kicker for the Atmore (now Escambia County) Alabama High School Blue Devils in 1939; also played in 1940.[74][75][76]
  • Frankie Groves – The first female to play on a boys' high school varsity team in the state of Texas, she played right tackle for Stinnett High School in 1947.[77][78]
  • Theresa Dion – First female player on a boys' high school varsity team in the state of Florida, when she played as a placekicker for Immaculate High School in Key West, Florida, in 1972.[79] Dion has been referred to as the first female player on a boys' high school varsity team (in any sport).[3]
  • Tami Maida – First known quarterback to also a become homecoming princess, as a 14-year-old junior varsity quarterback at Philomath High School in Philomath, Oregon, in 1981.[80] Her story was the basis of the CBS movie Quarterback Princess starring Helen Hunt as Maida.[80] She is Canadian.[80]
  • Beth Bates – First female player in Kentucky to score in a high school football game, kicking five extra points for the Williamsburg Yellow Jackets during her junior year in 1982.[81] Her historic first extra point was covered in The New York Times and Sports Illustrated.[82][83] She became the first female player to score a field goal in Kentucky during her senior year, when she connected on a 22-yarder.[81]
  • Heather Darrow – First female athlete in the state of Tennessee to score a point in a high school football game, when she kicked a PAT in the season opener as a junior at Notre Dame High in 1986.[84][85][86]
  • Kathleen Trumbo – First female in the state of Indiana to earn a varsity letter in football, as a defensive tackle at Corydon Central High School in 1989.[87][88] Although other girls in Indiana had started the season on boys' football teams, only Trumbo is believed to have finished.[87]
  • Sabrina Wells – One of the first two female players in the WPIAL (Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League), who played as a tight end for Ballou High School in Washington, DC, in 1989.[89] Featured in Jet magazine with Lakeal Ellis.[90]
  • Lakeal Ellis – One of the first two female players in the WPIAL (Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League), who played as a defensive back for Roosevelt High School in Washington, DC, in 1989.[89] Featured in Jet magazine with Sabrina Wells.[90]
  • Jessica Schultz – First female in Tennessee to score a touchdown in a varsity football game, as a sophomore running back at Jellico High in 1998.[91][86] The touchdown on the home field of border rival Williamsburg High in Kentucky was viewed as "revenge" for the widely publicized extra point scored by Beth Bates 16 years prior.[92]
  • Tonya Fletcher – One of the very few female players in the state of Illinois to have tried and succeeded in playing high school football as of 1998, along with Tina Brooks of Wauconda High.[93] Fletcher was a kicker for Cary Grove High School, who was named homecoming queen in 1998,[94] and was featured in Mary-Kate and Ashley Magazine in 2001.[95]

Post-2000

[edit]
  • Holley Mangold – In 2007, 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
  • Mika Makekau: In 2008, as a placekicker for Iolani School in Honolulu, Hawaii, Makekau set the state record for longest field goal (44 yards) by a female kicker.[96][97] Later became a college football placekicker at the University of La Verne, making a 26-yard field goal against No. 11 Whitworth on September 7, 2019.[97][98][99]
  • Erin DiMeglio – In 2012, became the first female quarterback to see play in Florida high school football history[100]
  • Anna Zerilli – Started kicking for Manchester-Essex High School, MA in 2015 and was the starting Varsity kicker for them. First female football player in North Shore and Cape Ann History and first female freshman to score in a Varsity game in American history. Currently playing Varsity football at Proctor Academy in New Hampshire. First New England female to sign to play college football. And will be kicking at Lake Forest College in Illinois next fall.[101][102][103][104] Kicker at Lake Forest College. First female to play on male football team in school history. Became first to play in the conference and first female to play college football in the Midwest.
  • Becca Longo – Kicker who in 2017 became the first woman to earn a college football scholarship to an NCAA school at the Division II level or higher and signed a letter of intent with Adams State University.[105]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
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