Reacting to Eddie George hire, Deion Sanders says Ray Lewis, Ed Reed want to coach, too
Deion Sanders has been encouraged with what he has seen in his early stint as the Jackson State football coach.
The Tigers (3-3, 2-2 SWAC) have played on ESPN for the first time since 1989, and he believes the national television exposure is helping level the playing field for all HBCUs. With Tennessee State reportedly hiring former Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George, Sanders said he's ecstatic to see another former NFL player coach at an HBCU.
Sanders said he didn't want to call former NFL players coaching HBCUs a trend because people need genuine passion, understanding and interest to enter coaching, but he did name a few more former NFL standouts who are interested in joining a sideline.
"Guys like Ray Lewis, I know who's tremendously interested, Ed Reed are certainly guys that I truly know are interested in the love, the game and love kids," Sanders said. "This could be a phenomenal thing."
Reed coached against Sanders in the 2020 Under Armour All-American Game. Reed served as a defensive backs coach for the Buffalo Bills in 2016 and he currently is the chief of staff for the Miami Hurricanes.
Lewis coached in the 2017 NFL Pro Bowl and said told Ravens.com he's thought about coaching in 2017.
Sanders played with both Reed and Lewis on the Baltimore Ravens in 2004 and 2005. All of the aforementioned former Ravens are Pro Football Hall of Famers, with Sanders being inducted in 2011, Lewis in 2018 and Reed in 2019.
To make room for George in Nashville, Tennessee State decided to not renew former coach Rod Reed's contract Monday. The Tigers finished the spring season with a 46-23 loss to Southeast Missouri on Sunday to bring their record to 2-5.
"This is not taking anything away from the coaches that are currently coaching right now because I'm telling you there are some really good coaches coaching in the SWAC, and HBCU football period," Sanders said. "(Morgan State coach) Tyrone Wheatley is doing a phenomenal job, a former NFL player as well, and several others."
George won the Heisman Trophy as a running back at Ohio State in 1995. He played for the Titans from 1996-2003 and went to four Pro Bowls. George also made an All-Pro team.
Follow Rashad Milligan on Twitter: @RashadMilligan.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Deion Sanders says more former NFL stars want to coach HBCU football
