Pat Palinkas: First Woman in Pro Football Passes Away at 81

UPDATE: The sports world mourns the loss of Pat Palinkas, the groundbreaking woman who shattered gender barriers in professional football, passing away at the age of 81 in 2025. Palinkas made history on August 15, 1970, when she debuted as the first woman to play in a professional football game with the Orlando Panthers of the Atlantic Coast Football League.

Palinkas’s journey began out of support for her husband, Steve Palinkas, a place-kicker looking to refine his skills. After being called in as a last-minute holder, her life changed forever. “Pat was the only person I could get on such short notice who had held for me,” Steve recalled. Their collaboration led to Pat’s historic signing with the Panthers, making them the first husband-and-wife duo in professional football.

On that fateful day in 1970, about 12,000 fans packed the Tangerine Bowl to witness her debut. “I was so nervous that one of the team doctors gave me a tranquilizer before the game,” she said. However, her first attempt at holding a kick did not go as planned; she bobbled the snap, resulting in a fumble. Despite the rocky start, the Palinkas successfully converted every kick thereafter, earning national attention.

The couple quickly became a media sensation, featured in segments by legendary broadcaster Walter Cronkite on CBS Evening News. The public was captivated by their story, with Pat even guesting on popular shows like What’s My Line and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

Yet, the spotlight was short-lived. Steve’s injury later in the season sidelined their football careers, but Pat remained proud of her achievements. “That was a fun time in my life,” she reflected. “I’m very glad I got the opportunity to do it.”

After her football career, Pat shifted her focus to education, becoming a first-grade teacher at Dunedin Elementary School in Tampa, Florida. As a devoted mother of three, she often shares her football legacy with her children’s friends, who are amazed by her accomplishments. “Some of their friends look at me and say, ‘No way you played professional football with men,’” she noted.

In recognition of her pioneering role, Palinkas’s contributions are preserved in the archives of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, where she is celebrated as the only woman to play professional football with men. “Teaching is a lot more rewarding,” she emphasized, reflecting on her dual legacy as an educator and a trailblazer for women in sports.

As the sports community reflects on her life, Pat Palinkas’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the strides women continue to make in athletics. Her legacy will inspire future generations of female athletes as they break barriers and strive for greatness in a field traditionally dominated by men.

Stay tuned for more updates on her remarkable impact on football and women’s sports. For comprehensive coverage, visit OrlandoSentinel.com/150.