https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Jets-Rodgers-enjoying-chance-to-coach-son-12999311.php
Jets' Rodgers enjoying chance to coach son
N.Y.'s defensive coordinator proud of son's work ethic
Published 10:34 pm, Friday, June 15, 2018
Florham Park, N.J.
At the training facility, Kacy Rodgers is the New York Jets' defensive coordinator.
Everywhere else, he's Dad to Kacy Rodgers II, a versatile defensive back competing to make the team.
The two are enjoying the unique chance to work together in the NFL as father-son and coach-player.
"It's been great," the younger Rodgers said. "This is an opportunity that doesn't come around very often and it's extremely rare in our profession to have this situation. I'm just taking it all in and using this opportunity to my fullest and taking advantage of it."
Rodgers II, 26, has been doing exactly that over the last few years just to reach this point. He went undrafted after playing at the University of Miami from 2010-13. Rodgers II had visits with several NFL teams over the last few years and was in the Canadian Football League for three seasons, including the past two with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
He was signed by the Jets in February and has a chance to add depth to New York's secondary, where he's listed as a safety but can also play cornerback as well as contribute on special teams.
"From my standpoint, you have to be proud of him because you know everybody's road is different to get here," the elder Rodgers said. "He wasn't a second-round draft choice and pushed in here. He had some of the rookie weekends that didn't work out. Then he kept trying, kept trying. Then he went to the CFL route, then the CFL practice squad, then he made the CFL roster, became a starter and consequently drew some free agent attention and now is here."
And, just because he has a special relationship with the man running the Jets' defense doesn't mean Rodgers II gets preferential treatment.
"I get on him no different than any other," the elder Rodgers said. "He's my son when we walk outside the building, but when he walks in the building, he's No. 39. He's got a job to do, no different than No. 33, No. 36."
Well, except for the occasional but inevitable good-natured razzing on the field.
During a practice last month, Rodgers II intercepted a pass from rookie Sam Darnold and the defensive players went wild.
"He's your daddy's son!" several of them shouted at the Jets' defensive coordinator, who couldn't help but crack up.
Coach Todd Bowles playfully retrieved the football and handed it to the proud father.
"Just looking at it from the outside in, I think it's great," Bowles said.
With minicamp over and the Jets breaking for six weeks before the start of training camp, the two will celebrate Father's Day in person Sunday.
"I think this is the first time I've seen my dad more than once or twice in a year just because of our schedules and jobs and things like that, so it'll be special because of the fact we'll be together," Rodgers II said.
