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Becoming a coach in the NFL requires a combination of skill, dedication, and a bit of good fortune. Begin by gaining hands-on experience during high school and pursue a related undergraduate degree. Work your way up by applying for positions such as graduate assistant coach or starting with smaller coaching roles at the collegiate level. Utilize your experience to advance through the college coaching system, with the goal of one day securing an NFL coaching position.
Steps to Take
Acquiring Education and Practical Experience
Play football in high school. Get involved in football as early as possible, ideally during junior high or high school. If playing isn’t an option, consider volunteering as a team manager. Many teams welcome volunteers, and all it takes is asking.
- For example, you could approach the coach and say, "Hi, coach. I didn’t make the team, but I’d love to help. Is there a chance to volunteer?"
Start developing a specialty in high school. Most coaches focus on a specific area. Whether it’s offense or defense, you’ll find various coaching roles available. It’s helpful to specialize in a position you’ve played, as you’ll have practical experience.
- To hone your specialty, play or assist in that area if possible. Study the specialty by reading relevant materials and taking related courses.
Pursue a football-related bachelor's degree. Nearly all coaches hold a bachelor’s degree. Choose a program in a related field, such as kinesiology, sports medicine, exercise science, nutrition, or physical education.
- Although degrees specifically in coaching are rare, you can use a college search tool to find programs that offer them.
Play college football. If possible, play for a college football team during your undergraduate years. College coaches typically prefer graduate assistants with college-level playing experience, and playing at the collegiate level will be valuable for securing coaching roles.
- If you don’t make the team, consider volunteering as a team manager to gain experience.
- Let your coaches know you’re interested in becoming a graduate assistant coach if that’s your goal.
Apply for an NFL internship. The NFL offers summer internships and junior rotational programs. The summer internships last 8-9 weeks, while the rotational program runs for 6 to 9 months with different rotations. Both give you behind-the-scenes experience with the NFL.
- While these internships may not directly involve coaching, they provide valuable insight into the NFL, which could help you land a coaching job later.
- For both programs, apply in your senior year with a GPA of at least 3.0 for the summer internship and 3.2 for the rotational program. Applications are available on the NFL’s website.
Consider pursuing a graduate degree in a relevant field. While a graduate degree in coaching or a related field isn’t mandatory, it can give you a competitive edge. Additionally, it opens the door to apply for graduate assistant coaching roles, which can help you break into the coaching profession.
Apply for a graduate assistant coach position. If you’re pursuing a master’s degree at a university with a football program, you may qualify for one of the two available graduate assistant roles. In exchange for this position, you'll typically receive free tuition, but expect to work up to 100 hours a week.
- This role is typically limited to 2 or 3 seasons at most.
- Check college websites, along with NCAA and NAIA job boards, for opportunities. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a program you admire to inquire about available positions.
- It’s common to apply for a graduate assistant position before starting your studies, ensuring you have a job lined up at the university.
Building Your Coaching Expertise
Learn from the best in the field. As you progress toward becoming a coach, immerse yourself in the works of accomplished coaches. Read autobiographies and instructional books, like Bill Walsh’s Finding the Winning Edge. Study what made them successful and adapt those strategies to your own coaching style.
- For insightful talks, explore YouTube videos by accomplished coaches.
- Take advantage of lectures offered by coaches in your area to learn firsthand.
Observe what makes other coaches effective. While working alongside other coaches, pay close attention to how they lead. Notice how they interact with players, develop strategies, and foster team unity. Learning from others' coaching methods can enhance your own technique.
- Forge strong relationships with fellow coaches. When you notice something you don’t quite understand, ask them about their decision-making process. Understanding their thought process will help you develop your own coaching strategies.
Attend coaching clinics. Coaching clinics can provide invaluable tools to improve your coaching skills. Renowned events like Glazier Clinics and those hosted by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) are excellent resources. Additionally, attending these clinics offers great networking opportunities within the coaching community.
- For example, the AFCA holds an annual convention that offers a wealth of educational sessions. The event typically takes place in January. Membership dues range from $60 to $200 as of 2018, which includes the convention cost. Alternatively, you can attend the convention for $15 to $60, plus travel expenses. You don’t need to be a coach to attend.
- Glazier Clinics are held throughout the U.S. and online. A single-season pass costs $119 as of 2018.
Becoming a College Football Coach
Search specialized websites for college coaching jobs. While you can find coaching roles through general job search platforms, focusing on websites tailored to college coaching positions will yield better results.
- For example, Football Scoop lists coaching opportunities at all levels, while the NAIA and NCAA provide job boards specifically for college coaches.
Start with lower-tier coaching roles. High-profile coaching positions may be out of reach initially, so begin with smaller programs in organizations like the NAIA, NCAA DIII, or the National Junior College Athletic Association.
- Starting in these roles allows you to establish a reputation as a reliable coach, opening the door to more competitive college programs down the line.
Be ready to discuss strategy during the interview. Once you secure an interview, make sure you're prepared to discuss your vision and coaching strategies. Expect to talk about how you plan to advance the team and manage individual players.
- Inspire confidence by demonstrating your ability to motivate your team.
- Review team footage before the interview to highlight both strengths and areas for improvement in your discussion.
Keep in touch with former colleagues. As you move forward in your coaching career, stay in contact with past coaches. Send occasional emails or make calls to check in. They may know about job openings that fit your skillset, so let them know you're on the lookout for new opportunities. Keeping these relationships strong can also provide you with valuable references for future positions.
Implement your strategy to secure victories. As you begin your coaching journey, use the knowledge gained from school and fellow coaches to build your own approach. If things don’t go as planned, reflect on the situation to identify what went wrong. Learn from these mistakes and guide your team to perform better next time.
- For example, reviewing film from opposing teams can be valuable. You might have seen other coaches do this before. Analyze the videos to understand the opponents' strategies, identify key threats, and adapt your gameplay accordingly to boost your chances of winning.
- If your team has been struggling with dropped passes, causing recent losses, focus on ball-handling drills to improve retention and reduce mistakes.
Keep advancing your coaching knowledge by attending more clinics. Be prepared to keep learning as new techniques and insights emerge regularly. While repetition isn’t necessary, consider attending higher-level clinics designed specifically for NCAA coaches, like the NFL-NCAA Coaches Academy, where NCAA coaches are nominated to participate annually.
Coaching in the NFL
Gain experience in other professional leagues. Expand your experience by coaching in professional leagues like the Canadian Football League (CFL). Though considered a stepping stone to the NFL, it offers valuable professional coaching exposure. If you build a successful coaching career in college, transitioning into the CFL is often easier and provides a great foundation for moving into the NFL.
Apply for the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship for minority coaches. This fellowship offers a unique opportunity to be hired for off-season training camps, where you can observe and gain practical experience. The NFL encourages each team to hire four coaches every off-season. Apply through https://apps.nfl.net/pdsurvey/pd/billwalsh.aspx.
- The purpose of this fellowship is to promote diversity by helping more minority coaches secure positions within the NFL.
Seek NFL coaching opportunities. Keep an eye on sports news to stay updated on coaching changes, such as firings or departures, which will highlight available positions. Websites like Football Scoop offer detailed information on NFL job openings.
- Also, reach out to your network and inquire if anyone knows about open coaching roles.
- Make your intentions clear that you're aiming for the NFL. If you're in a prominent college coaching position, NFL executives and managers are more likely to give you a chance. Let your connections know you're eager to move up to the professional level.
Assess the team in advance. Managers, coaches, and executives will expect you to discuss the players individually. They'll want your insights on what works and what doesn’t. Prepare by reviewing hours of game footage to provide a well-rounded evaluation of the team.
- If time is limited, consider hiring an agent to assist with player evaluations.
Consider hiring an agent. An agent acts as your legal representative, ensuring you negotiate the best possible deal during interviews and contract discussions. Bringing an agent to the interview is standard procedure, so team management will anticipate this.
- Choose an agent recommended by trusted friends or colleagues.
Be prepared for an in-depth interview. Expect most interviews to last at least three hours, with the possibility of extending to five or more hours if the conversation goes well. The goal is for the team to understand your personality, mindset, and coaching approach. Be ready to discuss your strategies, including how you’ll handle individual coaching tasks and what unique strengths you bring to the role.
- Long interviews are typically reserved for head coaching positions, where the head coach will select the staff they want to work with.
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If you're aiming to play before coaching, consider trying to play in the NFL or with a top-tier college team. While not all NFL coaches have played in the league, playing at that level can give you a competitive edge. Coaches will already be familiar with you, and you'll build connections across the league that could help land a coaching job.
