While it’s not a new occurrence, it feels like there’s been a slew of former athletes joining either broadcasting or coaching.
Over the last few weeks, multiple former NBA players like Carmelo Anthony, Jamal Crawford and Quentin Richardson have joined the NBA broadcast teams at different networks, which has happened many times in the past i.e. Kendrick Perkins, Reggie Miller, Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, etc.
But something interesting has happened over the last few years in college football specifically HBCU football, where these programs have become welcoming homes for former NFL players looking to get into coaching.
While Deion Sanders didn’t start the movement, as others like Doug Williams (Grambling, Morehouse) and Monte Coleman (Arkansas Pine-Bluff) preceded him, he is the biggest former NFL player name/personality to roam an HBCU sideline.
Sanders was joined by others such as Sean Gilbert (Livingstone College) and Eddie George (Tennessee State), the latter who just led the Tigers to their first Ohio Valley Championship since 1999 and an NCAA FCS playoff birth.
In December, NFL legend Michael Vick returned to his home state as the new head coach at Norfolk State. A week later, former NFL wide receiver DeSean Jackson followed and became the new head coach at Delaware State.
Now comes news that former Washington star running back, Clinton Portis, is joining Jackson’s staff at Delaware St. as the Hornets’ new running backs coach and run game coordinator.
Portis won a national championship with the Miami Hurricanes in 2001 and was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft.
He paid immediate dividends by rushing for 1,508 yards and 15 TDs that season and was ultimately named the NFL Rookie of the Year. After a Pro Bowl season in 2003 (1,591 yards rushing, 14 TDs), he was traded to Washington and rushed for 6,824 yards and 47 TDs in his seven seasons with the team.
Portis finished his career in 2010 after being released by Washinton.
Three years ago, Portis was found guilty of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud in the scheme orchestrated by 15 former NFL players to defraud the NFL’s insurance program designed for retired players. He served six months in federal prison and six months in home detention.
Now he gets a new shot at a career in football through a coaching opportunity at Delaware St.
