Patricia Palinkas (née Barczi, born 1943) is credited as the first and, until Katie Hnida signed with the Fort Wayne Firehawks in 2010, the only woman to play American football professionally in a league made predominately of men. She was a holder for her husband for the minor league (or semi-professional, depending on the source) Orlando Panthers in the Atlantic Coast Football League. She attended Northern Illinois University, however she did not play for their football team.