February 8th 2024.
Meet Odessa “OJ” Jenkins, a trailblazing force in the world of women’s tackle football. With an impressive track record as the most successful head coach in the sport’s history, Jenkins is now using her platform to fight for equity and opportunities for women and girls.
Hailing from south-central Los Angeles, Jenkins has faced her fair share of struggles and setbacks. But she was raised by a family who instilled in her the importance of perseverance and rising above adversity. She found solace and honed her talents in safe spaces, including through music and sports in school. Despite being told that football was not a viable option for a young woman, Jenkins refused to give up on her passion for the sport. After playing college basketball on scholarship, she made the bold decision to pursue football and the rest, as they say, is history.
Jenkins’ list of accomplishments is nothing short of impressive. She is a Hall of Famer, a seven-time National Champion, a two-time USA Football Team captain, and a three-time Team USA Gold Medalist. But perhaps even more importantly, she stands firm in her mission to use her success to pave the way for other women and girls to have the same opportunities in American football.
In 2018, Jenkins founded the Women’s National Football Conference (WNFC) and serves as both the CEO of Bonfire Women and the head coach of the Texas Elite Spartans, the defending champions of the WNFC. The league has grown tremendously, with 16 teams competing all over the country, and boasts a roster that is 70% women of color. Jenkins is proud to have 30 current HBCU alums on her team, including American gold medalists, working mothers, and even attorney Michelle Dunham from Southern University and A&M College.
But the WNFC is not just about winning games. Jenkins is passionate about using the league as a platform to create positive change and empower girls and women. The organization has launched initiatives such as the “Got Her Back” Girls Football Camp, which held 12 camps last year for girls ages 6-18. And with the recent launch of WNFC Flag, the league is only continuing to grow and expand its reach.
Jenkins is also the CEO of Bonfire Women, a company co-founded by two dynamic women that offers leadership programs to equip women with the skills, inspiration, and clarity they need to thrive in their careers. With Jenkins at the helm, the company is on a mission to accelerate confidence, equity, and community for women in the workplace.
But for Jenkins, it’s not just about her own personal success. She is determined to pave the way for more women to break barriers and achieve their dreams. She believes that having more women in leadership positions not only benefits the individuals, but also has a positive impact on the financial success of businesses. And as a Black woman, Jenkins knows firsthand the importance of creating safe spaces for women of color and giving them a voice to speak about their experiences and challenges.
As the WNFC and Bonfire Women continue to grow, Jenkins has big plans for the future. She envisions more opportunities for women to lead and get paid what they’re worth, and more opportunities for women in football. And with content partnerships in the works, including with the livestreaming platform Caffeine TV, she is determined to bring WNFC football to a wider audience and showcase the incredible talent and passion of these female athletes.
Jenkins’ message to aspiring women leaders is simple yet powerful: be true to yourself and don’t be afraid to take risks. She knows that it can be daunting to be the only woman or person of color in a room, but she encourages others to embrace their uniqueness and use it to make a difference. And with more women like Jenkins breaking barriers and creating opportunities, the future is looking bright for women and girls in the world of football and beyond.
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