A former standout running back is looking to get into coaching and is joining the Houston Texans’ staff for the summer.
According to reports, former Pro Bowl running back Darren Sproles is participating in the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship with the Texans for the spring. A former teammate of Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans in Philadelphia, Sproles now will have a chance to change the game off the field as he did on it during his illustrious career.
The Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship has been an ongoing league program since the early 1990s, allowing future coaches to observe, participate, and gain experience alongside NFL staffs during the offseason workouts and mini-camp. The goal has always been for teams to hire names who participate in bigger roles down the line.
Ryans, who enters his fourth season with the Texans, began his coaching career with the Fellowship under Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco beginning in 2017. He would later move up to quality control coach to linebackers and eventually defensive coordinator before landing back in Houston for the 2023 season.
Sproles, who spent two seasons with the Eagles as Ryans’ teammates, played 14 years in the league after being a fifth-round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. Mostly known for his time with Philadelphia, the speedster special teams star was also a member of the San Diego Chargers and New Orleans Saints staffs as a Pro Bowl talent.
Throughout his career, Sproles was a do-it-all machine, totaling over 8,000 career scrimmage yards. His best season came in 2011 with the Saints, where he posted 1,313 total yards and nine touchdowns. He also won a Super Bowl in 2017 with the Eagles after helping them reach the big game.
The Texans begin OTA practice on Wednesday afternoon.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans add former Pro Bowl RB to staff as part of Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship
Reporting by Cole Thompson, Texans Wire / Texans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
