USA Football emphasizes the importance of football for all and actively supports and participates in the creation of pathways for more people to participate in the sport. In the coming months, USA Football will highlight and share the experiences of exceptional members of the football community who have expanded the sport’s scope through their play.   

Jordyn White was unsure of the legitimacy of women’s tackle football when she attended tryouts for the Philadelphia Phoenix (NWFA) in 2003. All her worries were laid to rest after playing her inaugural season with the Phoenix in 2004, and she has been fully engulfed in the game since.  

“I heard about the team [the Phoenix] from another former college athlete friend who had been invited to try out, and I went out of curiosity,” White said. “I didn’t believe that it was going to be “real” football, but once we started doing drills, I knew.”   

In her 20 seasons of football, White has endured many emotions and cultivated life-long relationships.  

“I often joke that football is my longest relationship,” White said. “It has brought me both joy and heartbreak and has gotten me through some tough times. The sisterhoods I’ve formed have helped me advance my career and supported me through family challenges and loss. I even bought my first home from a teammate’s relative.” 

White’s time in football hasn’t come without its challenges. The physical and financial costs of remaining active in the sport are a common hurdle that White hopes will soon be torn down.  

“Injury has been the biggest hurdle,” White said. “Finances have also always played a part. It is hard, and it stinks to have to pay to play this sport — especially when you see men receiving annual salaries that would support the operating costs of your entire league for multiple seasons. I’m hopeful that won’t be the case for much longer, and that women will soon be able to profit from their passion for women’s football.” 

“I tore my left ACL during a game in 2009, and my right in 2014. After each of those injuries, I really had to ask myself whether I could and should continue my football career,” White explained. “Both times the answer was a resounding ‘yes’ because I knew I wanted my career to end on my terms.” 

White had been wanting to play for the U.S. National Team for years but was plagued with injuries and external circumstances. So, once the time was right, she was able to make the most of her opportunity.  

“I had been interested in playing for the U.S. National Team since hearing about tryouts for the 2010 team,” White said. “But I was too fresh off my first ACL injury to try out then, and in 2013 all of my resources (and crowdfunding) were dedicated to getting the [Washington] Prodigy off the ground. When 2017 came around, I knew it was time to seize the opportunity.” 

White was a member of the 2017 gold medal winning U.S. Women’s Tackle National Team that defeated Canada 41-16 in the 2017 IFAF Women's World Championship in Langley, British Columbia (Canada). She highlighted several of her favorite memories when reflecting on her time with the team. 

“I can’t put my U.S. National Team experience into words,” White said. “It was everything I’d always wanted my football experience to be. I was surrounded by the best of the best — hungry athletes who were sponges for football knowledge, and we got to spend weeks on end getting to focus on nothing but football.” 

“Winning Gold is obviously up towards the top of that list, but honestly, the experiences off the field meant just as much to me. We worked hard but we also laughed, sang, shared and cried. I made and grew even closer to life-long friends on that trip.” 

White is excited by the strides women’s tackle football made over the past two decades, especially when it comes to providing women with opportunities to participate at all levels of organizations.  

“The game has grown so much since I first got involved almost 20 years ago! I remember a time when teams rarely passed the ball because of a lack of depth in skill positions, and I remember having all-male coaching staffs because most women didn’t have enough experience or expertise to coach,” White recalled. “Now there are skilled women all over the field, at every coaching position and all through the front offices in every league.” 

White continues to give back to the sport that she holds close to her heart as she advances opportunities for other women. Currently, White is the co-founder and general manager for the Washington Prodigy women’s tackle team in Washington, D.C.  

“Starting a franchise has been a labor of love — to put it nicely,” White said. “We wanted to create a space where women of all backgrounds and skill levels could learn the game and feel respected and seen, and we’ve done that for 11 seasons. Not every day (or season) has been a walk in the park, but it’s all been worth it.”