The NFL is one of the largest sports leagues in the world. Players, coaches and managers earn millions a year. In such a bright world full of mega stars, it’s easy to forget the people who do the small jobs. They participate in victories and successes without their work being appreciated or even acknowledged. BILD introduces you to one of the craziest jobs in the entire NFL universe. That is the role of the “get-back coach”.
The NFL has been the American professional league in American football since 1920. The top earners sign long-term contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars. But even in this crazy world, there are crazier jobs.
A team’s head coach is one of the most influential people within the organization. Nevertheless, certain rules also apply to the coaches. Coaches are not allowed to step onto the field during a game. There is a boxed area on the touchline where a team’s coaches and substitutes are allowed to stay. If a player or a coach leaves this team zone illegally, the team gets a penalty.
The get-back coach
In order to prevent a coach or player from entering the field without permission, there are so-called “get-back coaches” in the NFL. Their job is to ensure that the entire team stays in the team zone.
Probably the most famous get-back coach in the NFL is Ted Rath (38). Until the 2020 season, he was the minder for LA Rams head coach Sean McVay (35). Ted Rath took care during the games that McVay didn’t run into the umpires or onto the field. This allowed the young head coach to fully focus on his players.
Ted Rath became a true internet legend during his time in Los Angeles. The 38-year-old keeps holding his head coach back in a very aesthetic way. The constant back and forth of the two coaches is more reminiscent of a classical dance than a coaching job.