Duce Staley, born in West Columbia, South Carolina, attended Airport High School where he earned All-State honors as a wide receiver, despite rarely playing running back. He went on to play running back at the University of South Carolina, where he was a standout player and earned First Team All-SEC honors in 1996. After a successful college career, Staley was drafted in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, where he became a key player. He later played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and was part of the team that won Super Bowl XL against the Seattle Seahawks.

Staley transitioned into coaching after retiring from playing, starting with the Eagles as the Special Teams Quality Control Coach from 2011 to 2012. He was promoted to Running Backs Coach in 2013, a position he held until 2020. During which, the Eagles won Super Bowl LII against the Patriots. Additionally, he served as Assistant Head Coach from 2018 to 2020. Seeking new opportunities, Staley joined the Detroit Lions as Assistant Head Coach and Running Backs Coach in 2021 before moving on to the Carolina Panthers in the same role in 2023. He is currently the Running Backs Coach for the Cleveland Browns, continuing to shape the careers of NFL players.

Outside of football, Staley is deeply involved in charitable work. He hosts The Duce Staley Football Camp at West Chester University, which benefits various charities, including the First Steps Program in South Carolina. He also founded the Catch 22 Foundation, focusing on helping single mothers. Staley has made significant contributions to education, including support of South Carolina’s First Steps program to improve early childhood education.

Photo Courtesy of the Philadelphia Eagles