Duce Staley

{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1975)}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Duce Staley

| image = Duce Staley.png

| caption = Staley in 2013

| current_team = Cleveland Browns

| number =

| position = Running backs coach

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1975|2|27|mf=y}}

| birth_place = West Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 11

| weight_lb = 242

| high_school = Airport {{nowrap|(West Columbia)}}

| college = South Carolina

| draftyear = 1997

| draftround = 3

| draftpick = 71

| pastteams =

Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|1997|2003}})
Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2004|2006}})

| pastcoaching =

Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|2011|2020}})
Special teams quality control coach (2011–{{NFL Year|2012}})
Running backs coach ({{NFL Year|2013}}–2020)
Assistant head coach ({{NFL Year|2018}}–2020)
Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2021|2022}})
Assistant head coach & running backs coach
Carolina Panthers ({{NFL Year|2023}})
Assistant head coach & running backs coach
Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)
Running backs coach

| highlights =

As player

Super Bowl champion (XL)
First-team All-SEC (1996)

As coach

Super Bowl champion (LII)

| statlabel1 = Rushing yards

| statvalue1 = 5,785

| statlabel2 = Rushing average

| statvalue2 = 4.0

| statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns

| statvalue3 = 24

| statlabel4 = Receptions

| statvalue4 = 287

| statlabel5 = Receiving yards

| statvalue5 = 2,587

| statlabel6 = Receiving touchdowns

| statvalue6 = 10

| regular_record =

| playoff_record =

| overall_record =

| pfr = StalDu00

}}

Duce Staley (born February 27, 1975) is an American football coach and former player who is the running backs coach for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served in the same capacity with the Detroit Lions during the 2021 and 2022 NFL seasons, and with the Philadelphia Eagles in various assistant coaching roles from 2011 to 2020.

Staley played college football as a running back for the South Carolina Gamecocks and was selected by the Eagles in the third round of the 1997 NFL draft, and during his playing career was best known for his tenure with the Eagles. Subsequently, he was a player with the Pittsburgh Steelers when they won Super Bowl XL against the Seattle Seahawks. Following the end of his playing career, Staley began his coaching career as a special teams quality control coach in 2011. He was promoted to the running backs coach in 2013 and given an additional role as assistant head coach in 2018. Staley was a coach with the Eagles when they won Super Bowl LII against the New England Patriots.

Early years

Staley attended Airport High School in West Columbia, South Carolina and was an All-State wide receiver, and played running back sparingly.

Playing career

=College=

As a senior at the University of South Carolina in 1996, Staley was ranked 13th in the nation in rushing with 1,116 rushing yards.{{cite web|last=Haney|first=Travis|title=Staley to join staff at USC|url=http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20081225/ARCHIVES/312259895|work=The Post and Courier|publisher=Evening Post Publishing Co.|access-date=November 21, 2012}}{{cite web|title=Duce Staley Forced Out At USC|url=http://www.fitsnews.com/2010/03/23/duce-staley-forced-out-at-usc/|work=FITSNews|publisher=Viewpolitik, LLC|access-date=November 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125082919/http://www.fitsnews.com/2010/03/23/duce-staley-forced-out-at-usc/|archive-date=January 25, 2012|url-status=dead}} In his collegiate career at South Carolina, Staley attempted 345 rushes for 1,852 yards (5.4 yards per carry). He also caught 59 passes for 489 yards and two touchdowns.

=National Football League=

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 5

| height in = 11 1/8

| weight = 220

| arm span = 31

| hand span = 8 7/8

| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?f=Duce&l=Staley&i=23101 |title=Duce Staley, Combine Results, RB - South Carolina |website=nflcombineresults.com |access-date=October 19, 2022}}

}}

==Philadelphia Eagles==

Staley was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1997 NFL draft and played for the Eagles through the 2003 season.{{Cite web |title=1997 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1997/draft.htm |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} After his rookie season and the departure of Ricky Watters, Staley became the starter in a tumultuous 3–13 season which led to the dismissal of head coach Ray Rhodes. Under Andy Reid, Staley developed into the team's perennial leading receiver through Reid's screen-heavy West Coast offense. However, he played in only five games of the 2000 season due to a serious Lisfranc fracture. Staley also missed some playing time in 2001 due to a shoulder injury. Entering the 2003 season, Staley held out of training camp in an attempt to bargain for a new contract, as he was in the last year of his deal.{{cite news |author=O'Rourke, Larry |title=Eagles sign their top pick McDougle |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/all-eaglesaug01,0,545925.story |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=August 1, 2003 |access-date=January 16, 2010}} With Correll Buckhalter coming back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and Brian Westbrook entering his second season, the Eagles decided not to budge. This resulted in shared playing time among the three, as Westbrook became the premier back by season's end. They were known as the "Three-Headed Monster".{{cite web|last=Eckel|first=Mark|title=Eagles are loaded with potential at runningback|url=http://www.nj.com/times-sports/index.ssf/2011/06/eagles_are_loaded_with_potenti.html|work=NJ.com|date=June 5, 2011|publisher=New Jersey On-Line LLC|access-date=November 21, 2012}} Consequently, the Eagles decided to not re-sign Staley.

==Pittsburgh Steelers==

Staley signed a five-year, $14 million contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers on March 9, 2004. Staley had rooted for the Steelers when he was growing up.{{Cite web |last=Blass |first=Eileen |date=March 9, 2004 |title=Steelers sign free-agent Duce Staley |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/steelers/2004-03-09-staley_x.htm |access-date=January 16, 2010 |website=USA Today}} He instantly became the number one running back for his new team, and was seen as the eventual heir apparent for Jerome Bettis, who at the time had the sixth-most career rushing yards in NFL history.{{Cite web |date=December 5, 2006 |title=Steelers send Staley on his way |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/12/05/steelers-send-staley-on-his-way/ |access-date=February 19, 2023 |website=Chicago Tribune}}

Staley played in 10 games in 2004, and rushed for 830 yards. He only scored one touchdown however, as Bettis took most goal-line carries, and eventually took over the starting job since Staley missed six games.

In 2005, after both he and Bettis were injured, Willie Parker, an undrafted free agent, had a stellar season, and Staley, in another injury plagued season, was dropped to third-string, managing only 148 yards in five games, with a 3.9 yard per carry average. The Steelers went on to win Super Bowl XL, giving Staley his first ever championship.

Staley played just one snap in the Steelers' 2006 season-opening win against the Dolphins.{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200609070pit.htm|title=Miami Dolphins at Pittsburgh Steelers - September 7th, 2006 - Pro-Football-Reference.com|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=February 6, 2018}} The Steelers signed former Packers' running back Najeh Davenport the next day, and deactivated Staley for the rest of the season. On December 3, 2006, the Steelers released Staley.{{cite web |title=Steelers Release Staley, Place Reid on Injured List; Sign Familiar Faces |url=http://news.steelers.com/article/72484/ |publisher=Steelers.com |access-date=January 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104101958/http://news.steelers.com/article/72484/ |archive-date=January 4, 2012 }} In his three-year tenure with the team, Staley played in just 16 games.

==Retirement==

Staley officially retired as an Eagle during the Eagles-Giants game on December 9, 2007. At halftime, Staley was escorted onto the field by former teammates for his retirement celebration featuring a brief ceremony and two highlight videos.{{cite web |title=DUUUUUCE!!!! To Retire As An Eagle |url=http://org-www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=14681 |publisher=PhiladelphiaEagles.com |date=December 6, 2007 |access-date=January 16, 2010 }}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

=NFL statistics=

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
Year ! Games Played ! Games Started ! Attempts ! Yards ! Touchdowns ! Avg. ! Receptions ! Rec. Yards ! Rec. Touchdowns ! Rec. Avg. ! Fumbles
1997 \| 16 \| 0 \| 7 \| 29 \| 0 \| 4.1 \| 2 \| 22 \| 0 \| 11.0 \| 0
1998 \| 16 \| 13 \| 258 \| 1,065 \| 5 \| 4.1 \| 57 \| 432 \| 1 \| 7.6 \| 2
1999 \| 16 \| 16 \| 325 \| 1,273 \| 4 \| 3.9 \| 41 \| 294 \| 2 \| 7.2 \| 5
2000 \| 5 \| 5 \| 79 \| 344 \| 1 \| 4.4 \| 25 \| 201 \| 0 \| 8.0 \| 3
2001 \| 13 \| 10 \| 166 \| 604 \| 2 \| 3.6 \| 63 \| 626 \| 2 \| 9.9 \| 3
2002 \| 16 \| 16 \| 269 \| 1,029 \| 5 \| 3.8 \| 51 \| 541 \| 3 \| 10.6 \| 3
2003 \| 16 \| 4 \| 96 \| 463 \| 5 \| 4.8 \| 36 \| 382 \| 2 \| 10.6 \| 2
2004 \| 10 \| 10 \| 192 \| 830 \| 1 \| 4.3 \| 6 \| 55 \| 0 \| 9.2 \| 3
2005 \| 5 \| 1 \| 38 \| 148 \| 1 \| 3.9 \| 6 \| 34 \| 0 \| 5.7 \| 1
2006 \| 1 \| 0 \| 0 \| 0 \| 0 \| -- \| 0 \| 0 \| 0 \| -- \|0
Totals ! 114 ! 75 ! 1,430 ! 5,785 ! 24 ! 4.1 ! 287 ! 2,587 ! 10 ! 8.9 ! 22

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

Year

! Games Played

! Games Started

! Attempts

! Yards

! Touchdowns

! Avg.

! Receptions

! Rec. Yards

! Rec. Touchdowns

! Rec. Avg.

! Fumbles

1997

| 16

| 0

| 7

| 29

| 0

| 4.1

| 2

| 22

| 0

| 11.0

| 0

1998

| 16

| 13

| 258

| 1,065

| 5

| 4.1

| 57

| 432

| 1

| 7.6

| 2

1999

| 16

| 325

| 1,273

| 4

| 3.9

| 41

| 294

| 2

| 7.2

| 5

2000

| 5

| 79

| 344

| 1

| 4.4

| 25

| 201

| 0

| 8.0

| 3

2001

| 13

| 10

| 166

| 604

| 2

| 3.6

| 63

| 626

| 2

| 9.9

| 3

2002

| 16

| 269

| 1,029

| 5

| 3.8

| 51

| 541

| 3

| 10.6

| 3

2003

| 16

| 4

| 96

| 463

| 5

| 4.8

| 36

| 382

| 2

| 10.6

| 2

2004

| 10

| 192

| 830

| 1

| 4.3

| 6

| 55

| 0

| 9.2

| 3

2005

| 5

| 1

| 38

| 148

| 1

| 3.9

| 6

| 34

| 0

| 5.7

| 1

2006

| 1

| 0

| --

| 0

| --

Totals

! 114

! 75

! 1,430

! 5,785

! 24

! 4.1

! 287

! 2,587

! 10

! 8.9

! 22

Coaching career

=Philadelphia Eagles=

Staley became a coaching intern for the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2010 offseason.{{cite news |author=Kapadia, Sheil |title=Practice observations: Ingram, Jauron, the WRs |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/moving_the_chains/Expectations_for_Stewart_Bradley.html |work=philly.com |date=July 27, 2010 |access-date=July 27, 2010}} On February 8, 2011, Staley was promoted to special teams quality control coach.{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/dneagles/Eagles_finalize_coaching_staff.html|title=Eagles finalize coaching staff - Philly|access-date=February 6, 2018}} After the departure of Andy Reid, Staley remained on the new staff with Chip Kelly and was promoted to the team's running backs coach. Kelly was fired as the team's head coach in December 2015 and Staley was interviewed for the vacant head coaching job in January 2016.{{cite web|title=Duce Staley interviews for Eagles' vacant coaching position.|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/14485316/duce-staley-interviews-philadelphia-eagles-vacant-coaching-job|website=ESPN|date=January 2, 2016|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures}} Staley was retained as the team's running backs coach by new head coach Doug Pederson on January 20, 2016.{{cite news |author=Berman, Zach |title=Eagles retain seven coaches, add seven new ones |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20160121_Eagles_retain_seven_coaches__add_seven_new_ones.html |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=January 21, 2016 |access-date=January 20, 2016}} On February 4, 2018, Staley won his first Super Bowl as a coach, and second overall, as the Eagles defeated the Patriots, 41–33, in Super Bowl LII.{{cite web | last=Jones | first=Lindsay H. | title=Super Bowl 2018: Eagles dethrone Tom Brady, Patriots in stunner | website=USA TODAY | date=2018-02-05 | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/super/2018/02/04/super-bowl-2018-score-philadelphia-eagles-new-england-patriots/305840002/ | access-date=2024-10-31}} On February 20, 2018, Staley was promoted to assistant head coach while maintaining his running backs coach position.{{cite news |author=Berman, Zach |title=Eagles make coaching changes official; two assistants added, six earn new titles/responsibilities |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/sports/eagles/philadelphia-eagles-coaching-changes-mike-groh-gunter-brewer-duce-staley-jeff-stoutland-20180307.html |website=Inquirer.com |date=March 7, 2018 |access-date=February 7, 2020}}

On August 2, 2020, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson was diagnosed with COVID-19 during training camp. He planned to communicate with the team virtually during his quarantine, and he relinquished day-to-day head coaching duties to Staley in the interim.{{cite news |author=McManus, Tim |title=Eagles coach Doug Pederson tests positive for COVID-19 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29585609/eagles-coach-doug-pederson-tests-positive-covid-19 |website=ESPN.com |date=August 2, 2020 |access-date=August 3, 2020}} Pederson returned to the team on August 12.{{cite news |author=McManus, Tim |title=Doug Pederson back with Eagles after positive test |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29646065/doug-pederson-back-eagles-positive-test |website=ESPN.com |date=August 12, 2020 |access-date=August 13, 2020}}

The "Duce Staley drill", a practice drill that Staley created to enhance players' footwork, was added to the NFL Scouting Combine in 2020.{{cite news |url=https://www.inquirer.com/eagles/duce-staley-drill-eagles-nfl-scouting-combine-running-backs-draft-20200228.html |title=NFL scouting combine: 'Duce Staley drill' was added to the running backs' workouts. What is it? |first=EJ |last=Smith |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=February 28, 2020 |access-date=February 29, 2020}}{{cite tweet |user=Eagles |number=1233785370665463813 |title=No better person to run the Duce Staley Drill than the man himself! |date=February 29, 2020 |access-date=February 29, 2020}}

=Detroit Lions=

On January 25, 2021, Staley was hired by the Detroit Lions as their assistant head coach and running backs coach under head coach Dan Campbell.

=Carolina Panthers=

On February 1, 2023, Staley joined new head coach Frank Reich and the Carolina Panthers as the running backs coach and assistant head coach positions. On November 27, Staley was fired along with quarterbacks coach Josh McCown and head coach Frank Reich.{{Cite web |title=Panthers move on from Duce Staley, Josh McCown |url=https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-move-on-from-duce-staley-josh-mccown |access-date=November 27, 2023 |website=www.panthers.com |language=en-US}}

=Cleveland Browns=

On February 5, 2024, Staley officially joined the Cleveland Browns as their new running backs coach.{{cite web|last1=Russo|first1=Kelsey|title=Browns announce three additions to the coaching staff|url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-announce-three-additions-to-the-coaching-staff|website=clevelandbrowns.com|date=February 5, 2024}}

Personal life

Staley is married to Maria Steadman, with three daughters and four sons. He is a native of Columbia, South Carolina, which is where he resides during the offseason. He underwent an innovative rehabilitation period prior to the 2001 season to become the first skill position NFL player known to return from a Lisfranc injury.{{cite news |author=Paoloantonio, Sal |title=Staley making progress in comeback |url=http://a.espncdn.com/nfl/s/2001/0619/1215830.html |website=ESPN.com |date=June 19, 2001 |access-date=February 29, 2020}}{{cite news |author=Marvez, Alex |title=Rookie Linebacker Gone |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2003-08-12-0308120109-story.html |website=Sun-Sentinel.com |date=August 12, 2003 |access-date=February 29, 2020}} He annually holds The Duce Staley Football Camp at West Chester University in Chester County, Pennsylvania, which benefits several charities, including First Steps Program in South Carolina, the Variety Club, and Direct Care for Kids. He launched the Catch 22 Foundation to help single mothers. He donated $25,000 to South Carolina Governor Jim Hodges First Steps early childhood education program in 1999 to help improve education in the state.

His son, Damani, played linebacker for the South Carolina Gamecocks from 2018 to 2021.{{cite web |url=https://gamecocksonline.com/sports/football/roster/damani-staley/6987 |website=Damani Staley South Carolina Gamecocks Player Bio |publisher=Gamecocksonline |access-date=December 3, 2020|title=Damani Staley - Football |date=June 22, 2018 }}

References

External links

Category:1975 births

Category:Living people

Category:American football running backs

Category:Itawamba Indians football players

Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players

Category:Philadelphia Eagles players

Category:South Carolina Gamecocks football players

Category:Philadelphia Eagles coaches

Category:People from West Columbia, South Carolina

Category:Sportspeople from Lexington County, South Carolina

Category:Detroit Lions coaches

Category:African-American coaches of American football

Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen

Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen

Category:Carolina Panthers coaches

Category:Coaches of American football from South Carolina