CHARLOTTE – Frank Reich continued to add to his staff Tuesday, bringing on Duce Staley to serve as the Panthers' assistant head coach and running backs coach.
Staley, 47, boasts 12 years of NFL coaching experience and another 10 years of playing experience in the league, primarily with the Eagles. He served as an assistant head coach and running backs coach in Detroit for the past two seasons.
Here are five fast facts to know about him:
1. Leading the Lions' run game: Staley spent the last two seasons leading running backs in Detroit, working under Dan Campbell. He helped Detroit's rush game consistently improve, going from 4.42 yards per rush in 2021 to 4.5 in 2022, marks ranked 15th in the NFL and the Lions' best since 1998. He helped develop Detroit's Jamaal Williams into one of the NFL's top rushers in his sixth season, as Williams slashed career highs and put up his first 1,000-yard rushing season in 2022. Williams finished the season with the most rushing touchdowns in the league (17) and 11th-most rush yards (1,066).
2. Super Bowl win with Reich: Before moving on to Detroit, Staley spent 10 years on staff in Philadelphia, where he also spent a large chunk of his playing career. Staley and Reich coached together from 2016-17 when Reich was offensive coordinator and Staley coached running backs. The two helped the Eagles reach their Super Bowl win for the 2017 season, and Staley was then promoted to an assistant head coaching role in addition to overseeing running backs. In entirety, Staley was on the Eagles' coaching staff from 2011-20, starting as a special teams quality control coach from 2011-12 before spending the rest of his tenure coaching running backs.
3. Playing history: Staley played a decade in the NFL before transitioning to coaching. A versatile running back with pass-catching ability, Staley was drafted by Philadelphia in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft after finishing his college career at the University of South Carolina. He played for the Eagles through 2003, battling various injuries before landing at Pittsburgh ahead of the 2004 season. Staley won a Super Bowl with the Steelers in the 2005 season, though he was limited for much of the run due to injury. He retired as an Eagle in December 2007.
4. Carolina roots: Staley was born and raised in West Columbia, S.C., nearby his alma mater South Carolina and about 90 minutes from Charlotte. He attended Airport High School in West Columbia and was an All-State wide receiver, playing limited snaps at running back in high school. Staley played college football for the Gamecocks until 1996. His son, Damani Staley, graduated from Ridge View High School in Columbia and played linebacker at South Carolina from 2017-21.
5. His own combine drill: Staley has had a combine drill named after him since 2020. The Duce Staley Drill tests a runner's ability to change direction in a small space. The drill is set up with three bags on the ground to form the shape of a letter T. Players step over the bags from the left side at first, then finish the drill in reverse before running up the field on either the right or left based on where a coach is lined up. Staley told the Eagles’ team website in 2020 he first created the drill in 2014 to maintain running back Darren Sproles' foot quickness after he was acquired via trade from the Saints.
Staley has 12 years of NFL coaching experience, including assistant positions with the Eagles (2011-20) and Lions (2021-22).
Detroit Lions assistant head coach/running backs Duce Staley on the sideline against the Baltimore Ravens during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Philadelphia Eagles' Duce Staley (22) is tackled by Carolina Panthers' Ricky Manning Jr (24) after a long gain in the second quarter in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 30, 2003. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Philadelphia Eagles running backs coach Duce Staley, right, works with running back Darren Sproles (43) on the sideline during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Detroit Lions assistant HC/RB coach Duce Staley talks with running back Jamaal Williams (30) before an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers and the Detroit Lions on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Detroit Lions running backs D'Andre Swift (32) and Jamaal Williams (30) talk with assistant head coach and running backs coach Duce Staley during an NFL football practice in Allen Park, Mich., Thursday, June 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions assistant head coach Duce Staley watches against the Seattle Seahawks during an NFL football game in Detroit, Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions assistant head coach and running backs coach Duce Staley gives directions during an NFL football practice in Allen Park, Mich., Thursday, June 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions assistant head coach and running backs coach Duce Staley watches during a preseason NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Detroit, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions assistant head coach and running backs coach Duce Staley talks before an NFL football practice in Allen Park, Mich., Thursday, June 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Philadelphia Eagles' Jay Ajayi, left, and coach Duce Staley react during warm-ups before an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)
Philadelphia Eagles running backs coach Duce Staley, right, works from the sideline during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly, left, and running backs coach Duce Staley watch warm-ups before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)
Philadelphia Eagles' Duce Staley watches warm ups before a preseason NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)
Philadelphia Eagles assistant head coach and running backs coach Duce Staley speaks with members of the media at the NFL football team's practice facility in Philadelphia, Monday, June 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Philadelphia Eagles' Carson Wentz, right, and Duce Staley smile before a preseason NFL football game, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)
Philadelphia Eagles running backs coach Duce Staley watches warm-ups before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Duce Staley (22) runs past Carolina Panthers linebacker Adam Seward (59) for three yards to the Carolina 9-yard line during the second quarter of preseason NFL football action Thursday, Aug. 31, 2006, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Philadelphia Eagles special team quality control coach Duce Staley, right, talks to running back LeSean McCoy (25) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012, in Philadelphia. Philadelphia won 24-23. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)
Philadelphia Eagles running backs coach Duce Staley, right, talks with DeMarco Murray during organized team activities at the NFL football team's practice facility, Monday, June 8, 2015, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphis Eagles running back Duce Staley (22) celebrates the Eagles 33-19 win over the Chicago Bears Saturday, Jan. 19, 2002, in a NFC Divisional Playoff game in Chicago. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
Former Philadelphia Eagles running back and coaching intern Duce Staley, left, blocks wide receiver Jason Avant during the morning session of NFL football training camp at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., on Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
Pittsburgh Steelers' running back Duce Staley stretches during the first day of drills at the teams training camp in Latrobe, Pa. on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2005. Veteran running back Jerome Bettis expected to take it easy this season, letting Staley take most of the carries to stay fresh for the postseason. But less than a week into camp, Staley is hurting again, creating the possibility that Bettis could be in for another long season. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Pittsburgh Steelers' running back Duce Staley (22) drops back to pass with quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger,(7) Shane Boyd (8) and Charlie Batch, right, at the practice field at the team training facility in Latrobe, Pa. ,on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2006. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Duce Staley (22) is tackled by Jacksonville Jaguars' Daryl Smith, during the fourth quarter Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Steelers won, 17-16. (AP Photo/Phil Coale)
Green Bay Packers linebacker Brady Poppinga (51) watches as Pittsburgh Steelers running back Duce Staley (22) scores on a 3-yard touchdown run during the fourth quarter Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005, in Green Bay, Wis. The Steelers won 20-10. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Duce Staley does drills during the first day of football mini-camp at the team facility in Pittsburgh on Saturday, May, 13, 2006. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Duce Staley (22) is stopped by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Marcus Wilkins near the goal line in the first quarter in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2004. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Duce Staley, a Philadelphia Eagle last season, is caught by linebacker Mark Simoneau (53) after a 6-yard gain in the first quarter of a preseason game Thursday, Aug. 26, 2004, in Philadelphia. Blocking is Steelers guard Alan Faneca. (AP Photo/George Widman)
FILE Pittsburgh Steelers running back Duce Staley runs in the pre-season game against the Minnesota Vikings in Pittsburgh in this Aug. 19, 2006 file photo. Staley was on pace a couple of years ago for one of the best seasons by a Steelers running back. When the Steelers wrap up their exhibition schedule Thursday, AUg. 31, 2006 against Carolina, Staley might be playing to remain with the team. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Philadelphia Eagles' Duce Staley (22) dives from the grasp of Dallas Cowboys' Leonardo Carson (91) to run in a touchdown in the third quarter Sunday, Dec. 7, 2003, in Philadelphia. At rear is Cowboys' Kenyon Coleman (93) and Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Duce Staley, left, dashes past Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Madieu Williams for 15 yards in the fourth quarter of Pittsburgh's 28-17 win in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2004. Staley rushed for 123 yards on 25 carries. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Philadelphia Eagles running back Duce Staley celebrates his second quarter touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during their NFC playoff game Sunday, Jan. 11, 2004, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Gardner)
Philadelphia Eagles running back Duce Staley celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2002 in Philadelphia. Staley ran for two touchdowns in the Eagles' 35-17 win. (AP Photo/Chris Gardner)
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid, left, celebrates their 27-25 win win over the Washington Redskins with running back Duce Staley Sunday, Oct. 5, 2003, in Philadelphia. The Eagles won their first game in their new stadium.(AP Photo/Chris Gardner)
Philadelphia Eagles' Duce Staley (22) runs around the block by teammate Jemane Mayberry (71) on Arizona Cardinals' Ronald McKinnon (57) in the third quarter at Sun Devil Stadium in Phoenix, Sunday, Nov. 4, 2001. The Eagles won 21-7. (AP Photo/John Miller)
Philadelphia Eagles' running back Duce Staley (22) completes a 27-yard pass play as San Diego Chargers' saftey Rodney Harrison (37) defends in the first quarter in Philadelphia Sunday, Dec. 9, 2001. The play set up an Eagles touchdown. (AP Photo/George Widman)
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