Jen Welter still has her first professional football paycheck. She keeps it with her in her purse. It was earned during her first season in the Women’s Professional Football League in 2004 and it’s worth $12.
“It was a dollar a game, but that’s technically what made us pro,” Welter said.
The sentimental value was worth more than the $12. Football has always been in Welter’s DNA, but even a few months ago she never could have imagined it would lead to the NFL. As the Cardinals open training camp this week, Welter, 37, will be coaching linebackers alongside Bob Sanders and Larry Foote as one of five Cardinals coaching interns.