Colorado football coach Deion Sanders has brought together the NFL Greats coaching staff.
That raises doubt as Sanders hires Folk, a Pro Football Hall of Fame, to hire the Buffalo’s back coach as running back coach this offseason. How many coaches do famous NFL players coach in college football?
College Football has a large number of productive NFL players on a variety of coaching staff. Sanders is inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Reading Needs: Marshall Falk’s salary has been revealed as Deon Sanders’ new running back coach in Colorado
The Power 4 team is clearly focused on hiring former players with success and experience.
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Here’s a look at some of the most notable former NFL players coaching in the Power 4 ranks of college football.
Coaching NFL players in college football
Career Revenue to Spotrac Some players’ revenues are not available.
Here are the most notable full-time assistants or head coaches currently playing in Power 4 College Football in the NFL:
Marshall Folk, Colorado
Falk played for the Indianapolis Colts and St. Louis Rams from 1994 to 2005, and was named Colorado’s running back coach this offseason.
Faulk is one of the most decorated former NFL players in college football as he won the 2000 MVP and won three consecutive Offensive Player of the Year awards from 1999 to 2001. The six-time All-Pro running back will earn $400,000 in his first season as a coach in 2025.
Career Revenue: $48,935,000
Dion Sanders, Colorado
Buffalo’s inspirational head coach, Sanders is one of three professional football hall of fame members on the Colorado staff, and analysts Folk and Sapp.
The 1994 defensive player of the year and eight All-Pro Selection went 9-4 in Colorado in 2024 after finishing 4-8 in 2023. Jr., both are expected to be one of the top picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Sanders began college coaching in 2020 as Jackson State’s head coach.
Career Revenue: $33,568,331
Brian Hartline, Ohio
Hartline, who was promoted to Ohio State’s offensive coordinator and chief play caller next season after Chip Kelly joined the coaching staff at Pete Carroll in Las Vegas, is known as perhaps the best wide receiver recruiter in college football . First round picks, Chris Olave, Marvin Harrison Jr., Garrett Wilson and Jackson Smith Nigba, are among those who have been coached by Hartline in their short coaching careers so far. superstar Jeremiah Smith will also be acquired by Columbus.
Ohio State’s former fourth pick, Hartline won a back-to-back 1,000-yard season for the Miami Dolphins in 2012-13, catching 150 passes for 2,099 yards and five touchdowns in those seasons. did.
Hartline has been the Buckeyes receiver coach since 2018.
Career Revenue: $18,567,975
James Laurent, Ohio
Another former Buckeye, James Laurenten, was named Ohio Linebacker coach in 2024 after serving as a graduate assistant at Notre Dame and Ohio State in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Laurent Flame was one of the great linebackers in the NFL after being drafted in the second round in 2009. Former St. Louis RAM led the NFL in tackles in 2012, finishing his career with a total of 869 tackles, starting with 115 of 117. – Time Game.
Career Revenue: $35,831,297
Hines, Arizona
Three-time All-Pro receiver Hines Ward was selected as Arizona State receiver coach ahead of the 2024 season after spending his season as head coach for UFL San Antonio Brahmas.
The two Super Bowl winners against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the 2005 Super Bowl MVP caught 1,000 passes for 12,083 yards and 85 touchdowns in 14 seasons.
Ward played a key role in the Sun Devils offensive staff, leading Arizona State and second-year head coach Kenny Dillingham to the College Football Playoffs in 2024.
Career Revenue: $38,919,250
DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma
Demarco Murray coached one season with Arizona in 2019 before returning to his alma mater, Oklahoma, in 2020, as a running back coach.
Murray was an offensive player for the Dallas Cowboys in 2014 after rushing for 1,845 yards leading the league with 13 touchdowns and catching 57 passes for 416 yards.
Murray played with the Cowboys, Eagles and Titans from 2011-17, with three Pro Bowl selections and the first team All-Pro pick of 2014.
Career Revenue: $25,715,703
Jason Taylor, Miami
The former Miami Dolphins defensive lineman, one of the most feared passing rushes of the 2000s, has been Miami’s end of field coach since 2023.
Taylor, the 2006 defensive player of the year, is a four-time All-Pro pick and holds most of the NFL records for fumble return touchdowns (6). He is one of several of the Pro Football Hall of Fames on this list.
The six-time Pro Bowler is one of the most productive former NFL players in college football.
Patrick Sarten Srent, Sr., Florida
Patrick Sulten Sr. was the father of Patrick Sulten Jr., who just signed the 2024 defensive player with the Denver Broncos, and he himself was a great player.
Now Florida State defensive backs coach Surtain Sr. was the first team All-Pro selection of consecutive teams in 2002 and 2003. He intercepted 37 passes and finished his career with a total of 547 tackles in 11 seasons against Miami. Dolphins and the chief of Kansas City.
Surtain Sr. was a longtime high school coach before becoming a defensive assistant for the Miami Dolphins in 2022. He became the defensive backs coach for the Seminoles in 2023.
Chris Weinke, Georgia Institute of Technology
Chris Weinke is currently Georgia Tech’s co-offensive coordinator and quarterback coach after joining the program in 2022.
Of course, Weinke won the 2000 Heisman Trophy for Florida, passing after leading the nation with 4,167 yards with 33 touchdowns. He led the Seminoles to the national championship, where he fell to Oklahoma 13-2.
Weinke played seven years in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers, starting his rookie season 15 games, but only five games left in his career in the backup role.
Weinke registered with FSU at the age of 25 after attempting a professional baseball career before returning to college.
Career Revenue: $6,564,000
CJ Spiller, Clemson
Spiller returned to his alma mater, Clemson, as a graduate intern in 2020. He was promoted to coach running backs in 2021.
The ninth overall pick before 2010 was the 2012 Pro Bowl choice, playing eight seasons, most of which were with the Buffalo Bills. Spiller’s best season was in 2012, running for 1,244 yards with six touchdowns and catching 43 passes for 459 yards to score two scores.
Spiller also played for the Saints, Seahawks, Jets and Chiefs.
Career Revenue: $29,633,298
Donovan Raiola, Nebraska
Donovan Raiola is best known for being the uncle of Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola and being the brother of Dominic Raiola.
Nebraska’s current offensive line coach, Raiola, played in one career NFL game, but his brother is a 14-year-old veteran with the Lions, starting 203 of his 219 games at center.
Donovan Raiola spent his time on eight different practice teams during his career in three separate stints with the St. Louis Rams.
Tashard Choice, Texas
Texas running back coach Tashard Choice is a promising college football coach and recently interviewed the Dallas Cowboys running back coach job. However, Texas has options.
His previous fourth pick was a seven-year NFL career with the Cowboys, Washington, Buffalo and Indianapolis, running for 1,579 yards with 10 total touchdowns. His best season was in 2008 as a rookie, running for 472 yards with two touchdowns and catching 21 passes for 185 yards.
Career Revenue: $3,551,985
Mike Farry, South Carolina
Mike Farley is one of the most interesting players on this list. He began his college career as a walk-on in Ohio before transferring to Northern Iowa, where he became one of the best receivers in the school.
Furrey, a South Carolina receiver coach since 2024, was undrafted in 2000, bouncing off multiple teams and found his role as a receiver and safety for the St. Louis Rams in 2003-05. His best season came in 2006 when he caught 98 passes for 1,086 yards for six touchdowns for the Detroit Lions.
Farry also served as receiver coach for the Chicago Bears and was the head coach of Division II limestone before being hired by the Gamecocks.
Mike Peterson, Florida
Mike Peterson is Florida’s external linebacker coach and is probably best known for being Adrian Peterson’s older brother.
However, Peterson had a solid NFL career as he was the total leader of tackles in 2000 and the second team All-Pro pick in 2005.
The Colts, Jaguar and Falcon linebackers finished their 14-year career with 1,220 tackles, 21.5 sacks and 163 starts in 198 career games.
Peterson was previously a South Carolina external linebacker coach from 2016-21. He returned to his alma mater, Florida in 2022.
Career Revenue: $31,839,000
Fillroadholt, Mississippi
Loadholt is Colorado’s offensive line coach and was one of the former NFL players on the Sanders staff in 2024. However, he was hired by Mississippi in the same role ahead of the 2025 season.
Loadholt played seven seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and began all 89 career games. He retired after the 2015 season, which tore Achilles in the preseason.
Loadholt was his second pick from Oklahoma in 2009 and has been in his second season as a full-time assistant coach after serving as an offensive analyst for UCF, Ole Miss and Oklahoma before Colorado.
Career Revenue: $24,227,500