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Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Duce Staley will remain on the Cleveland Browns coaching staff under new head coach Todd Monken.
Former NFL running back Duce Staley made his last start in the league against the Cleveland Browns while with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But the past two seasons, he’s been on the other side of the rivalry as the Browns running backs coach.
Staley will retain that role in Cleveland under new head coach Todd Monken.
The Browns announced this week Staley will stay with the team as running backs coach for the 2026 season. It will be his third season with Cleveland.
Todd Monken is keeping running backs coach Duce Staley on his staff. Staley has been in that role for the Browns since 2024.
Staley played three seasons with the Steelers from 2004-06. In his first two seasons on the Pittsburgh roster, the Steelers posted a 26-6 regular season regular and won the Super Bowl following the 2005 season.
In 16 games, Staley rushed for 978 yards and two touchdowns with Pittsburgh.
Duce Staley Staying With the Cleveland Browns Coaching Staff
This isn’t the first time Staley is remaining with a team’s coaching staff after the organization made a change at head coach. That happened twice with Staley at his first coaching stop with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Five years after his Steelers tenure ended in 2006, Staley began his coaching career in Philadelphia. Staley spent a bulk of his prime with the Eagles, playing in Philadelphia from 1997-2003.
Staley coached special teams and running backs over a 10-year stint on the Eagles staff from 2011-20. During that time, he coached under Andy Reid, Chip Kelly and Doug Pederson.
Staley was the team’s running backs coach in 2017 when the Eagles won their first Super Bowl.
Following Pederson’s departure in Philadelphia after 2020, Staley joined Dan Campbell’s coaching staff with the Detroit Lions. He also coached with the Carolina Panthers before landing in Cleveland.
With the Lions and Panthers, Staley coached running backs and served as an assistant head coach.
Under Staley’s coaching in 2025, Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins ran for 827 yards and seven touchdowns. Judkins also caught 26 passes for 171 additional yards.
Staley’s Playing Career Tenure With the Steelers
The Steelers signed Staley in NFL free agency to a five-year, $14 million contract before the 2004 season. At the time, it was a sizable free agency commitment, especially for the Steelers, who still had future Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis on the roster.
Staley and Bettis were a lethal combination during Ben Roethlisberger’s rookie season in 2004. The Steelers were second in the league in rushing that campaign with 154 yards on the ground per game.
Staley gained 830 rushing yards in 2004 despite playing just 10 games. He led the team with a 4.3 yards per carry average. Bettis had 941 rushing yards that season and scored nearly all of the team’s rushing touchdowns (13).
Unfortunately, Staley dealt with a plethora of injuries, which caused him to play just 16 games in three seasons. He started all 10 of his games for the Steelers in 2004 but then made only one start (against Cleveland) during 2005.
Staley appeared in just one contest during the 2006 campaign and didn’t have a carry. He won a Super Bowl ring with the Steelers but didn’t appear in any of the team’s playoff contests in January-February 2006.
The Steelers released Staley before the end of the 2006 regular season. He retired the following offseason, finishing his career with 5,785 rushing yards and 34 total touchdowns.
Dave Holcomb is a sports reporter covering the NFL and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions. Originally from Pittsburgh, Holcomb has covered college and professional sports for outlets including FanSided, Rotowire and Yardbarker. More about Dave Holcomb
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