FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFL-M-12 8/20/98

Seventy-three African-Americans are taking part in this summer’s NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship Program. The total surpasses last year’s previous high of 65 participants.

The program has produced 30 current NFL assistant coaches, including Baltimore Ravens defensive line coach JACOB BURNEY, Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant head coach/defensive backs HERMAN EDWARDS, and Kansas City Chiefs running backs coach LIONEL JAMES.

"The NFL’s Minority Coaching Fellowship Program is something that I have always felt was a great opportunity for many young college coaches who aspire to coach in the NFL," said Miami Dolphins head coach JIMMY JOHNSON, whose team has a league-high nine participants this summer. "It affords them a look at what coaching in the NFL is like.

"As part of my training-camp staff, first when I was with the Cowboys and now with the Dolphins, the fellowship coaches perform some of the same duties as my full-time assistants. They give their input to the players at meetings and out on the practice field. Seven of the coaches who have been part of the program as members of my staff have gone on to full-time positions in the NFL, including three here in Miami – ROBERT FORD (receivers), CARY GODETTE (defensive line) and RANDY SHANNON (defensive assistant). They are all excellent coaches, and their year in the program helped them prepare for their NFL coaching careers."

More than 500 minority coaches, including many former NFL players, have participated in the training camps of all 30 NFL teams since the program was introduced in 1987.

The fellowship program provides an intensive learning experience for all participants, which include college and NFL Europe League coaches and ex-NFL players. They become working members of NFL coaching staffs for the summer and are responsible for numerous assignments, including directing and planning workouts, formulating scrimmage and preseason game strategies, breaking down videotape, and evaluating players.

While the Dolphins lead the league this year with nine coaching fellows, the Chicago Bears top the NFC with five.

Several former NFL players are enrolled in the program this year, including CHARLIE BROWN (WR, Atlanta, Washington), RAY DONALDSON (C, Dallas, Indianapolis and Seattle) and SAM CLANCY (DE, Cleveland, Indianapolis and Seattle). Clancy has spent the past four years as the defensive line coach of the NFL Europe League’s Barcelona Dragons and is now working with the New England Patriots.