Patricia Palinkas facts for kids
| No. 3 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Holder |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | 1943 (age 81–82) |
| Height: | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Weight: | 122–130 lb (55–59 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College: | Northern Illinois University |
| Career history | |
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Patricia Palinkas (born in 1943) made history as the first woman to play professional American football in a league mainly for men. She played as a holder for the Orlando Panthers team in 1970. Patricia was the only woman professional American football player for many years. Another woman, Katie Hnida, joined a professional team in 2010.
Contents
Patricia Palinkas's Football Journey
Starting Her Professional Career
Patricia Palinkas went to Northern Illinois University. She did not play football there. In 1970, the Orlando Panthers team was having money problems. They needed a way to attract more fans to their games.
Hiring a woman football player was a new idea. It created a lot of excitement and attention. This helped the team get more people to watch their games. Patricia and her husband, Stephen Palinkas, joined the team.
Facing Challenges on the Field
Patricia's first game was on August 15, 1970. About twelve thousand fans came to watch. On her very first play, an opposing player from the Bridgeport Jets tackled her roughly. He later said he tried to hurt her because he thought women should not play football.
Despite this tough welcome, Patricia kept playing. She helped her team with three successful extra-point kicks. She also tried a field goal, but it was blocked.
Moving On From Football
Later, Patricia's husband injured his leg. This made it harder for him to kick field goals. Patricia stayed on the team as the holder for a new kicker. She was still popular with the fans, which helped the team.
However, Patricia soon lost interest in playing. She also found that the pay was very low. Some of her teammates were not getting paid at all. Because of these issues, Patricia decided to leave the team.
She had an option to return in 1971. But the team moved far away. Also, she had faced many difficulties during her time playing. So, she chose not to return.
After her short time in professional football, Patricia Palinkas went back home. She lived in Tampa, Florida. She started a family and continued her career as a first-grade teacher.
See also
In Spanish: Patricia Palinkas para niños
- List of female American football players
- List of women firsts
