Richard Rodgers enters his 11th season coaching in the NFL and his fourth with Washington and is the senior defensive assistant/safeties coach.
In his 32nd year in the coaching profession and first with Washington in 2020, Rodgers assisted the defensive backs group that boasted the second-best passing defense in the league in 2020 [191.8 yards per game]. Rodgers helped coach the group that allowed 3,068 net passing yards, Washington's fewest since 2004 [2,977].
Rodgers joined Washington after serving in a variety of roles with the Carolina Panthers from 2012-19, coaching safety duo Eric Reid and Tre Boston.
Prior to joining Carolina, Rodgers coached collegiately for 23 years. He coached at Holy Cross from 2005-11, spending his last six seasons as defensive coordinator after handling the secondary in 2005. Rodgers developed the Crusaders into one of the top defenses in the Patriot League. Five players from his unit earned All-Patriot League honors in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
From 2001-04, Rodgers tutored the secondary at New Mexico State. During his tenure, the Aggies amassed 45 interceptions while lowering their passing yardage allowed in each of his final three seasons. Previously, Rodgers worked at Portland State from 1997-2000. He oversaw the Vikings' secondary and special teams in addition to serving as the team's strength and conditioning coordinator.
Rodgers was also exposed to professional football along the way. He participated in the NFL's Minority Internship Program with the Oakland Raiders during training camp in 1996 and was the defensive backs coach for the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe in 1998.
A two-time second-team All-Pac 10 Conference selection at California, where he was teammates with Washington Head Coach Ron Rivera, Rodgers played defensive back and was the Golden Bears' special teams captain for three seasons.
Rodgers graduated from California with a degree in political science. He has a daughter, Kayla, and four sons, Richard II – an NFL tight end – Christopher, Noah and Evan, and is married to his wife Sara.
