The NFL will have their first-ever “Coach and Front Office Accelerator” program at this year’s league meetings in Atlanta, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have a pair of ascending leaders in attendance.
Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and director of football research Jacqueline Davidson will take part in the program, which aims to expand leadership opportunities for women and minority candidates in both coaching and management roles.
Here’s more information on the program from the NFL’s official release:
As part of the NFL’s ongoing commitment to promote greater coach and C-suite level diversity among clubs, the League announced plans today to host its inaugural Coach and Front Office Accelerator, May 23-24 at the Spring League Meeting in Atlanta. The Accelerator will convene more than 60 diverse head coach and general manager prospects from all clubs and the League, and ownership representation from all 32 clubs.
The program will provide senior women and minority prospects with leadership development sessions with football operations experts and facilitators, as well as time spent networking directly with club owners. The effort is designed to continue building a diverse hiring pipeline for future head coach and general manager positions throughout the League.
Each club nominated rising prospects to participate in the two-day Accelerator. In addition to leadership development and sessions on the business of football, attendees will engage in candid discussions on how to take the next step in becoming a coach or front office executive.
“The NFL is committed to diversity and inclusion and this program is the latest in a series of steps designed to improve our hiring practices,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “The program ensures that clubs receive exposure to high performing, up-and-coming NFL talent.”
Leftwich has served as Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator since 2019, and has been one of the league’s most successful units in each of his three seasons. Davidson’s work has helped the Bucs develop one of the NFL’s most talented rosters, and helped the team navigate the salary cap in creative ways to maximize their current Super Bowl window.
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