Boston College Grad Jennifer Welter Makes Men's Pro Football History

While she didn't find the end zone, Jennifer Welter made history over the weekend. Welter is believed to be the first woman to play a position other than kicker or holder in a men's pro football game.

The 5-foot-2, 130-pound running back was thrown for a 1-yard loss by the slightly larger, 6-foot-4, 245-pound defensive end in her first game as running back for the Indoor Football League's Texas Revolution.

"I said, 'Is that all you got?'" Welter told The Dallas Morning News, describing the third-quarter sequence. "They were getting all alive, and I had to say something. I didn't want them to think I was intimidated."

The 36-year-old rushed twice more for no gain before being asked to get pulled from the game. Despite Welter not finding the end zone, the Revolution would go on to defeat North Texas Crush, 64-30.

Welter, a Boston College grad and four-year rugby player, has played linebacker in a Texas women's tackle football league for several years. She isn't advocating that women play against men, but also wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to play for the Revolution.

"I've thought of all the reasons why I might be the wrong person to do this: 'You're too small, you're too this, you're too that,'" she said. "The truth is if I can change the game, literally, for any of those girls, it's worth it."

Welter signed with the Revolution in January as a running back. The team will have to cut the roster ahead of Friday's season opener and Welter is unlikely to make the cut. Still, she's more than earned the respect of her teammates, even if she isn't making a big deal about having made history.

"If you're a football player, you're a football player. When you play the game well, it doesn't matter if you're male or female."

You can read more about Welter's career at her website.