Q: What about her relationships with her players? She also said she would like to serve as a role model. Jennifer King enters her sixth season in the NFL and fourth with Washington. According to their official website, the Redskins are hiring Jennifer King as a full-year coaching . Still, the coaching staff put her there because she has a deep understanding of the sport. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. She\u2019d report to head coach Ron Rivera as an offensive assistant, according to ESPN. Where King shined was how she managed to help underclassmen grasp the system. I was asked about her being the first African American female coach in NFL history. That's one of the things with Jennifer. Collette Smith became the NFL's first African American female coach in 2017 when she was an intern with the New York Jets, assisting defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson for the summer. She knew she had to become fundamentally sound and know how to do the things that other people who just live on their athleticism or their height all the time. . Not perfection, but excellence. The Redskins recently hired Jennifer King as a full-year coaching intern, making her the first African-American female in NFL history to hold the position, and she brings plenty of experience as a player and coach. "I had to coach basketball because women didn't coach football, even though I would have loved to.". The Oklahoma State cornerback garnered All-Big 12 honors in 2021. With experience coaching in the now-defunct AAF, the NCAA and as a part-time intern under Rivera with the Panthers, King knows what to expect in her new role this coming season. And shes hoping what she does in Washington makes it easier for women to find their dream job immediately instead of diverting their time to jobs they arent as passionate about. She has worked with head coach Ron Rivera in two different stints when he was with the Carolina Panthers, the most recent of which was last season when she worked extensively with Pro Bowl running back Christian McCaffrey as an intern running backs coach. King spent the previous two offseasons working as an . King had started 2019 with the Hotshots, helping Ross lead the AAF with eight touchdown receptions. The running back position is still relatively new to me, so its been a lot of studying and learning on that position, King said. Shes got some stuff to her., Teevens knows King is hard working and dedicated, someone that loves the game and is going to put in the extra time and effort, he said. . She planned to wait. "It helps us in a lot of ways. Tack on the fact tennis legend Billie Jean King, someone she admired since she was young, reached out to her via direct message on Twitter to congratulate her on the move. She also said she would like to serve as a role model. Especially in coaching, you just never know, King said. The Washington Redskins are entering a period of transition this offseason. Bills ink vet Murray after passing on RBs in draft, LB Barrett's 2-year-old daughter drowns in pool, Deion 'ashamed' after only 1 HBCU player drafted, Sources: NFL eyes May 11 to release schedule, Jets coach Saleh: Rodgers making 'presence felt', Cowboys scout emotional as team drafts his son, Rams use 'Mr. The Washington Redskins announced Jennifer King as a full-year coaching intern on Monday, Redskins Hire Jennifer King As A Full-Year Coaching Intern, Five Things To Know About Redskins Defensive Backs Coach Chris Harris, Five Things To Know About Redskins Linebackers Coach Steve Russ, a small group of females working in the NFL. The Phoenix won the Independent Womens Football Leagues Founders Bowl in 2012, 2015 and 2016 and the IWFL World Championship in 2013. But King broke through the figurative barriers to her dream. Here are five things to know about one of the newest additions to the defensive line. . As a member of the Charlotte Phoenix, King was also a wide receiver and a safety. WASHINGTON (WJLA) - In February, the Washington Redskins announced that they have officially named Jennifer King as a full-year coaching intern. It's important because they really do control as to whether their kids are going to play. Sunday's game between the Washington Football Team and the Cleveland Browns marked the first time in league history that three women were on an NFL field in an official capacity. She explained who she was, and described how on most days, she stood on the other side of the Panthers practice facility fence, listening. As a coach, she's worked at the collegiate and professional levels, including two internships with head coach Ron Rivera when he was with the Carolina Panthers. Theres no substitute for that hard work, and obviously, its a demanding profession and a demanding job, but just work hard every day.. Q: How did the situation play out when she became one of your assistant coaches? But most importantly, she told Rivera then, I want a chance to coach in the NFL, and she asked him if there was a way she could work with the Panthers. I said, "Well that's good, but I don't think she's doing it because she wants to be the first African American female in it." I really enjoyed that, and thats been one of the new things, because I typically came in after the draft.. Im definitely, definitely not surprised, said Trudi Lacey, the athletic director at Johnson & Wales in Charlotte, N.C. I think that when I met Jennifer, and decided to hire her, I knew innately that there was something special about her, and I think its her internal drive, her internal motivation. Those jobs got her all, but never her heart. King would join the staff as an offensive assistant, a source told ESPN's David Newton. King strayed to other jobs, such as being a personal trainer, police officer and basketball coach. Assistant running backs coach Jennifer King discusses her coaching journey in the wake of her East-West Shrine Bowl selection and the release of a new TV series about women in the NFL. King rejoins a small group of females working in the NFL, and she wants to pave the way for others like her who want to be a coach. That's why she was very valuable for us. She knew a little bit about it because she played quarterback in her womens league, but there are so many more protections and nuances. Prior to coming to Washington, King coached in the National Football League, the Alliance of American Football and in the college ranks. So during the summer, we're out recruiting some and then we've got a lot of dead time. Sometimes, it goes more to Xs and Os to do that, because once you build that relationship, the Xs and Os will come. "Obviously, I was successful at it because they kept me there.". "I don't know what it is. It doesn't matter who you are -- if you bring something special to the table and help us, we most certainly want you.". Here are five things to know about the newest addition to special teams. I had high hopes, and I had built a lot of relationships, so I felt like I would get an opportunity at some point, but you never know when its going to be. It was kind of a wild move, King said. She's athletic, don't get me wrong, but she was able to take what athleticism she had to become fundamentally sound and became a very good basketball player. Lacey said the conversation was difficult, but she believes in people chasing their passions. As a coach, King has been able to use her experience as an athlete to connect with players. Washington used its sixth-round pick (225th overall) to take Michigan long snapper Camaron Cheeseman. Jennifer King will work with the offensive staff with a focus on the running backs, the team announced Monday. I thought it was a great example and a great role model for her. Last fall, King worked with Dartmouth College as an offensive assistant, helping create scouting reports and working with the receivers. 1, Panthers' Bryce Young is all 'business now', Top picks Christian Gonzalez, Keion White reflect Patriots' ideal identity, Big takeaways from the NFL draft: A historic QB class, the rebuilt AFC South and new GMs thriving, NFL Nation sizes up all 259 draft selections, XFL semifinals: Defenders roll Sea Dragons, set up title showdown with Renegades. This is now her third time working with Rivera, and she has proven herself as qualified and capable with each opportunity. They were tough. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. The time that she put in, she was basically a coach, Teevens said. Outside of coaching with the Panthers in 2018 and 2019, King has been an offensive assistant with Dartmouth College and the Arizona Hotshots in the Alliance of American Football. Its been cool seeing this process. "Her familiarity with my expectations as a coach and my firsthand knowledge of her work ethic and preparation were big factors in bringing her to the Redskins.". 2 in yards per game and were 5-3 before the league dissolved. "It's also knowing the moms out there that understand the game. She also has experience in the now-defunct Alliance of American Football as an assistant wide receivers coach with the Arizona Hotshots. "There was never, like, a black superhero, and now that there's a black superhero, it's like, 'Holy cow! Shed report to head coach Ron Rivera as an offensive assistant, according to ESPN. Redskins coach Ron Rivera hired King after working with her with the Carolina Panthers. Here are five things to know about one of the newest additions to the offense. King's coaching experience in football only goes back three seasons, but she played the sport for much longer than that. Since she was a kid, she would watch it on TV and go outside to play it. Im chill. ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Redskins have hired Jennifer King as a full-year coaching intern, making her the first African American female full-year intern in the NFL. Philadelphia Eagles. "When things weren't going right, she was good at keeping my head in the game and understanding it.". Jennifer King was a seven-time All-American quarterback for the Womenn's Football Alliance with a record of 75-17. He found a way, bringing her on the last two offseasons as a coaching intern, working with the wide receivers her first summer and then with running backs the following year. She has the ability to go from one sport to the other. Teevens, the head coach of the Dartmouth football team, asked King if shed join him and give a presentation, and he observed how well she and the kids interacted. Her Phoenix player profile can be found HERE, where King lays out what made her start playing football and what inspired her to play. I think the same thing kind of goes for everyone, put that work in. Below are five things Redskins fans should know about the newest addition to the coaching staff. Not much will change for King in terms of responsibilities. So I've been at Greensboro for 18 years. She knows she wants whatever shes doing to involve coaching football and that when she looks back, she wishes she wouldve pushed harder for what she has now when she was younger.