Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford spent a April afternoon drawing plays on a whiteboard for a youth flag football game. His three oldest daughters, Chandler (9), Sawyer (9) and Hunter (8), were among the players. The team's planned coach, a local high school student, had a schedule conflict, so the job fell to Stafford.
Stafford said he tried to keep things simple for the team of six girls and four boys. "We kind of just lined up and played the same defense all the time and tried to keep it simple for them so they could go play and have fun," he said. His team won the championship, but he said his goal was teaching the fundamentals. He added that he didn't lean heavily on his NFL expertise, noting that he was "just a dad out there at that point."
Stafford is one of many current NFL players who coach their children in sports including football, soccer, baseball, basketball and golf. ESPN spoke with 16 of them about the experience. New England Patriots right tackle Morgan Moses said opposing parents often react when he coaches his sons in youth football. "It's funny because a lot of the parents from the opposing team are like, 'They're running NFL plays!'" Moses said.
Los Angeles Chargers outside linebacker Bud Dupree coaches his sons Jett (8) and Ace (6). He said he wants youth sports to focus on development rather than winning. "A lot of coaches are in it for the wrong reasons," Dupree said. He has since built several teams called BD Elite, which now reach kids beyond his own family.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing