NEW YORK -- Today, the NFL announced its continued efforts to strengthen the pipeline of diverse coaching candidates through hosting the 2024 Coach Accelerator program on May 20-22 at the Spring League Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Spring Accelerator is the league's fifth iteration since the program was launched in 2022. It follows the Front Office Accelerator Program held in Dallas, Texas this past December. For the first time, the Accelerator will include coaches who have predominantly worked at the college level.
The Accelerator serves as a platform for clubs and owners to engage with qualified coaching candidates from diverse backgrounds. Candidates can build relationships with club owners and executives and further develop and hone their leadership skills. To date, the program has successfully contributed to an increase in diverse candidates being interviewed for open positions, and many past participants have been promoted and hired into more senior coaching positions.
"Developing diverse coaching talent through the Accelerator program is a key priority," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "In its fifth iteration, this program continues to be an effective avenue for club owners and executives to be exposed to the skillset and unique backgrounds of highly qualified coaching candidates, and for the program's participants to network with one another and engage in professional development sessions."
In addition to networking and personal development programming, the league will provide coaches with insight to future initiatives, both on and off the field, to contextualize how the game will continue to develop and where the NFL is evolving.
"Since its inception, the Coaching Accelerator has prepared candidates to succeed in various coaching roles while cultivating relationships with executives and key decision makers," said Mark Wilf, Minnesota Vikings owner and president. "The program proves to be mutually beneficial for participants and clubs as it breaks down barriers to access and educational tools vital for success. I am proud of the progress already made and look forward to seeing the continuous growth of the Accelerator."
This year's Coach Accelerator candidates include:
| Name | Affiliate |
|---|---|
| Terry Braden | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Marcus Brady* | Los Angeles Chargers |
| Mike Caldwell* | Las Vegas Raiders |
| Michael Clay | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Brian Flores | Minnesota Vikings |
| Pep Hamilton* | |
| Al Holcomb | Buffalo Bills |
| Shawn Jefferson | New York Jets |
| Jerrod Johnson* | Houston Texans |
| Mike Kafka | New York Giants |
| Thaddeus Lewis* | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| Charles London* | Seattle Seahawks |
| Brandon Lynch | Cleveland Browns |
| T.C. McCartney | New England Patriots |
| Ron Middleton* | New York Jets |
| Scottie Montgomery* | Detroit Lions |
| Nate Scheelhaase | Los Angeles Rams |
| Karl Scott | Seattle Seahawks |
| David Shaw | |
| DeAndre Smith | Indianapolis Colts |
| Eric Washington* | Chicago Bears |
| Lunda Wells | Dallas Cowboys |
| Michael Wilhoite | Denver Broncos |
| Marquice Williams | Atlanta Falcons |
| Rod Wilson | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Dennard Wilson | Tennessee Titans |
| Israel Woolfork | Arizona Cardinals |
*Participant previously a part of the program
All participants subject to change
