Former South Carolina RB Duce Staley reportedly lands new NFL coaching job
By Keith Farner
Published:
Former South Carolina running back Duce Staley is reportedly joining the new coaching staff of the Detroit Lions after the team recently hired Dan Campbell as head coach.
The news comes from Tom Pellissero of the NFL Network, who reported that Staley would have the title of assistant head coach/running backs.
Staley’s name has been in the news in recent days after he reportedly interviewed for the open Philadelphia Eagles head coaching job, and then when he didn’t land it, Staley asked to be released from his contract. Staley had been the Eagles running backs coach since 2013. NBC Philadelphia reported that Staley, 45, was recently passed up for the Eagles’ head coaching job for the second time in the last six years.
Staley is a popular fan favorite with the Eagles, and is the fifth-leading rusher in franchise history. He helped the Eagles advance to three consecutive NFC title games from 2001-03.
After seven seasons in Philadelphia, Staley finished his career with the Steelers, winning a Super Bowl ring with Pittsburgh’s 2005 championship team. Staley joined the Eagles’ staff as the team’s special teams quality control coach in 2011. Staley, who was elevated to running backs coach in 2013, was named assistant head coach in 2018 shortly following the Eagles’ 41-33 win over the Patriots in the Super Bowl.
Staley may be most remembered at South Carolina for the 1996 season when he rushed for 1,116 yards. He also later was a sideline reporter on Gamecock radio broadcasts.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
