The Pittsburgh Steelers have hired alumni William Gay and David Johnson as coaching interns for the 2019 season, it was announced today.
Gay, drafted by the Steelers in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft, played a total of 10 seasons in Pittsburgh (2007-2011, 2013-2017) as well as one-year stints in Arizona (2012) and with the New York Giants (2018). Johnson was drafted by the Steelers in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft and played his first five years in Pittsburgh before two years with the San Diego Chargers (2014-15). He finished his NFL career in Pittsburgh in 2016.
The NFL's Diversity Committee has recommended that the 32 teams take a proactive approach on identifying diverse candidates to become coaches in the NFL. This included outside the traditional League workplace, particularly potential candidates in college football and former NFL/college football players with an interest in coaching or management.
The NFL implements several coaching and personnel development programs, including the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship, NCAA Coaches Academy, Nunn-Wooten Scouting Fellowship, NFL Player Personnel Clinic, General Managers Roundtable, and the NFL Career Development Symposium.
