The Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship
The Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship is an annual program administered by the NFL Management Council and NFL Player Engagement.
The program's objective is to use NFL Clubs’ training camps, offseason workout program and minicamps to give talented minority coaches opportunities to:
- Observe
- Participate
- Gain Experience
- Ultimately gain a full-time NFL coaching position
Designed as a vocational tool to increase the number of full-time NFL minority coaches, all 32 NFL Clubs participate in the program on an annual basis. Specific aspects of the program (including hiring, salary and coaching duties) are administered on a Club-by-Club basis. No elements of the Fellowship are mandated to the Clubs by the League office, but several “best practices” have been strongly recommended to the Club, including:
- Participants are hired for the duration of training camp, including all pre-season games.
- Clubs are encouraged to hire a minimum of four (4) participants.
As part of the programs’ evolution, in 2012 the NFL announced the formation of the Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship Advisory Council, comprised of a distinguished group of NFL coaches and general managers.
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“It is imperative we continue to create opportunities, not only in coaching but in every other aspect of the league,” said former Kansas City Chiefs general manager and Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship Advisory Council member SCOTT PIOLI. “This fellowship program is important as long as we continue to teach and mentor individuals with one basic premise in mind – educate. I am a firm believer in the proverb of, ‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.’”
“This program has been extremely beneficial over the years, paving the way for many coaches who have gone on to successful NFL careers,” said former Cleveland Browns president and Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers head coach MIKE HOLMGREN, who serves on the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship Advisory Council. “As a head coach with the Packers and Seahawks, I had many coaches work for us during camp who were able to get full-time positions because of that valuable experience. It was a tremendous learning environment for them and it continues to open doors for many young coaches.” Source: NFL - Apply here.
