Duce Staley was promoted to assistant head coach during the 2018 offseason and has continued to serve as Philadelphia's running backs coach, a position that he has held since 2013.
One of the most productive players to ever suit up for the Eagles, Staley originally joined the Eagles coaching staff as a coaching intern in 2010, worked as a special teams quality control coach for two seasons (2011-12) and was promoted to running backs coach in 2013. Since his first season on Philadelphia's staff in 2011, the Eagles rank sixth in the NFL in rushing offense (124.2 ypg) and rushing touchdowns (133) and eighth in rushing average (4.43 ypa).
In 2019, Staley's tutelage helped rookie RB Miles Sanders and second-year RB Boston Scott achieve breakout years. Sanders was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team after leading all NFL rookies in all-purpose yards (1,641) and scrimmage yards (1,327) and setting new rookie franchise records in both rushing yards (818) and scrimmage yards (1,327). Additionally, Sanders ranked third among NFL running backs in scrimmage yards per touch (5.8) (min. 200 touches). Scott, who helped spark Philadelphia's late-season playoff surge, registered career highs in scrimmage yards (449) and rushing touchdowns (5).
The Eagles' ground game helped propel the team to its first Super Bowl title in 2017 (Super Bowl LII), as Philadelphia owned one of the most powerful rushing attacks in the NFL, ranking third overall in rushing offense (132.2 ypg) and fourth in rushing average (4.47 ypa). LeGarrette Blount led the Eagles with 766 rushing yards, which are the third-most ever by an Eagles running back age 30-or-older. Jay Ajayi, who was acquired in a trade with Miami in Week 9, ranked second among NFL running backs in rushing average (5.83) over the last eight games of the regular season (min. 70 attempts). Additionally, undrafted rookie Corey Clement led Philadelphia with four rushing touchdowns and produced two receiving touchdowns, marking the most offensive touchdowns (six) by an Eagles rookie running back since 1953.
In 2015, Staley worked with two first-time Eagles running backs in DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews, as the duo became the first pair of Eagles backs with six-or-more rushing scores in a season since 2003. Mathews ranked fourth in the NFL in yards per carry (5.08).
Under Staley's direction in 2014, RB LeSean McCoy finished third in the league in rushing with 1,319 yards and second in rushing attempts with 312, en route to his second consecutive Pro Bowl berth. In Week 14, McCoy broke Wilbert Montgomery's 30-year-old franchise rushing record of 6,538 yards.
In his first season coaching the team's running backs in 2013, Staley was part of an offense that helped set franchise records in points (442 - broken in 2014), total net yards (6,676), touchdowns (53 - broken in 2014), passing yards (4,406 - broken in 2014) and fewest turnovers (19). McCoy earned first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors for the second time in his career after leading the NFL in rushing yards (1,607) and scrimmage yards (2,146), setting Eagles records in both categories. McCoy became the first Eagle since Steve Van Buren in 1947 to lead the league in both rushing and scrimmage yards.
Prior to coaching the Eagles running backs, Staley served as the team's special teams quality control coach, assisting with both special teams as well as the team's rushing corps.
Staley played a key role in the development of McCoy as he recorded one of the most productive seasons by a running back in team history in 2011. McCoy shattered the team record for most touchdowns in a season (20), gained 1,309 yards on the ground, and earned first team All-Pro honors and his first Pro Bowl bid.
A multi-talented running back for the Eagles (1997-2003) and Pittsburgh Steelers (2004-06), Staley gained 5,785 yards during his career, including 4,807 with the Eagles (fifth most in team history). He also ranks sixth in the Eagles record book with 7,305 total yards from scrimmage and 16th with 275 receptions. He was voted by his teammates as the Eagles offensive MVP three times (1998, '99 and 2002) and earned a Super Bowl XL championship ring with the Steelers in 2005.
Staley was a third-round draft choice of the Eagles in 1997 out of South Carolina, where he rushed for 1,852 yards from 1995-96. He was elected to South Carolina's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.
During his playing days, Staley was very active in the community as he worked with the Special Olympics and First Steps early childhood education program, and launched the Catch 22 Foundation to assist single mothers. In 2003, Staley also traveled to Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar as part of the USO to greet U.S. troops stationed abroad.
Staley resides in Philadelphia and has a daughter, Shakia, and a son, Damani. He was born on 2/27/75 in Tampa, FL.
