Duce Staley Duce Staley ( born February 27 , 1975 ) is the current Running Backs Coach for the Philadelphia Eagles of The National Football league and a former American football running back in the National Football League best known for his tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles . He also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers . He played college football at University of South Carolina . Early years . Staley attended Airport High School in West Columbia , South Carolina and was an All - State wide receiver , and played running back sparingly . College career . As a senior at the University of South Carolina in 1996 , Staley was ranked 13th in the nation in rushing with 1 , 116 rushing yards . In his South Carolina years , he attempted 345 rushes for 1 , 582 yards ( 4 . 58 per average ) . He also caught 59 passes for 489 yards and two touchdowns . < br > < br > Staley attended Itawamba Community College in Fulton , Mississippi in 1993 and 1994 where he was a NJCAA All - American . Professional career . Philadelphia Eagles . Staley was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1997 NFL Draft and played for the Eagles through the 2003 season . After his rookie season and the departure of Ricky Watters , Staley became the starter in a tumultuous 3 – 13 season which led to the dismissal of head coach Ray Rhodes . Under Andy Reid , Staley developed into the team ' s perennial leading receiver through Reid ' s screen - heavy West Coast offense . However , he played in only five games of the 2000 season due to a serious Lisfranc fracture . Staley also missed some playing time in 2001 due to a shoulder injury . Entering the 2003 season , Staley held out of training camp in an attempt to bargain for a new contract , as he was in the last year of his deal . With Correll Buckhalter coming back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament ( ACL ) and Brian Westbrook entering his second season , the Eagles decided not to budge . This resulted in shared playing time among the three , as Westbrook became the premier back by season ' s end . They were known as the " Three - Headed Monster " . Consequently , the Eagles decided to not re - sign Staley . Pittsburgh Steelers . Staley signed a five - year , $ 14 million contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers on March 9 , 2004 . Staley had rooted for the Steelers when he was growing up . He instantly became the number one running back for his new team , and was seen as the eventual heir apparent for Jerome Bettis , who at the time had the sixth - most career rushing yards in NFL history . Staley played in 10 games in 2004 , and rushed for 830 yards . He only scored one touchdown however , as Bettis took most goal - line carries , and eventually took over the starting job since Staley missed six games . In 2005 , after both he and Bettis were injured , Willie Parker , an undrafted free agent , had a stellar season , and Staley , in another injury plagued season , was dropped to third - string , managing only 148 yards in five games , with a 3 . 9 yard per carry average . The Steelers went on to win Super Bowl XL , giving Staley his first ever championship . Staley played just one snap in the Steelers ' 2006 season - opening win against the Dolphins . The Steelers signed former Packers ' running back Najeh Davenport the next day , and deactivated Staley for the rest of the season . On December 3 , 2006 , the Steelers released Staley . In his three - year tenure with the team , Staley played in just 16 games . Retirement . Staley officially retired as a Philadelphia Eagle during the Eagles - Giants game on December 9 , 2007 . At halftime , Staley was escorted onto the field by former teammates for his retirement celebration featuring a brief ceremony and two highlight videos . Coaching career . Philadelphia Eagles . Staley became a coaching intern for the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2010 offseason . On February 8 , 2011 , Staley was promoted special teams quality control coach . After the departure of Andy Reid , Staley remained on the new staff with Chip Kelly and was promoted to the team ' s running backs coach . Personal . Staley is single and has a daughter , Shakia , and a son , Damani Zihir . He is a native of Columbia , South Carolina , which is where he resided during the offseason . He underwent a grueling yet innovative rehabilitation period prior to the 2001 season to become the first successful return from a Lisfranc injury . He annually holds The Duce Staley Football Camp at West Chester ( PA ) University , which benefits several charities , including First Steps Program in South Carolina , the Variety Club and Direct Care for Kids . He launched Catch 22 Foundation to help single mothers . He donated $ 25 , 000 to South Carolina Governor Jim Hodges First Steps early childhood education program in 1999 ( Dec . 23 ) to help improve education in the state .