Ron Middleton (American football) facts for kids

Ronald Allen Middleton (born July 17, 1965) is a well-known American football coach and a former player. He used to play as a tight end in the National Football League (NFL).

Middleton played college football for the Auburn Tigers. He then played in the NFL from 1986 to 1995. This included time with the Washington Redskins from 1990 to 1993.

After his playing career, he became a coach. He coached college teams like the Troy Trojans, Ole Miss Rebels, and the Duke Blue Devils. He also coached in the NFL for teams such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and most recently, the New York Jets.

Early Life and College Football

Ron Middleton was born on July 17, 1965, in Atmore, Alabama. He and his sister were raised by their great-grandmother. He went to Escambia County High School.

When he was in 9th grade, Ron wanted to quit football. He dreamed of becoming a rock star and playing the trumpet in the band. However, his coach convinced him to stick with football.

He graduated high school in 1982 when he was 16. He then went to Auburn University. There, he played as a tight end for the Auburn Tigers. While he was on the team, the Auburn Tigers won three bowl games. He earned a degree in pre-law and history.

Playing Career in the NFL

In 1986, Ron Middleton joined the Atlanta Falcons. He was an undrafted free agent, meaning no team specifically picked him in the draft. He played for the Falcons for two years.

After that, he joined the Cleveland Browns. With the Browns, he played in an AFC Championship Game. By 1989, the Washington Redskins had released him four times. This was a club record! But he finally made their team roster in 1990.

Under Coach Joe Gibbs, Ron became a key player for the Redskins. He started in 45 of 62 games over five seasons. Twelve of those games were during the 1991 season. That season led to Super Bowl XXVI, where Washington beat the Buffalo Bills 37–24. Ron Middleton was a Super Bowl champion!

In 1994, he moved to the Los Angeles Rams. He then played his last season in 1995 with the San Diego Chargers before he retired from playing.

Coaching Career Highlights

After retiring as a player in 1995, Ron Middleton decided to try coaching. His friends encouraged him to get involved in football again.

College Coaching

He started his coaching career at Troy University in Troy, Alabama, in 1997. He was the tight ends coach. He also coached offensive tackles and was an assistant special teams coach.

After two seasons, he moved to Ole Miss. He started as the tight ends coach there. By the end of his five years at Ole Miss, he was also coaching running backs and was the special teams coordinator. He helped coach players like Jonathan Nichols.

In 2007, Middleton coached at the University of Alabama. Then, from 2008 to 2012, he worked at Duke University under Coach David Cutcliffe. At Duke, he coached players such as Ross Martin, Will Monday, and Cooper Helfet.

NFL Coaching

In 2003, Ron Middleton joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coaching staff. He became a full-time coach there in 2004 under Coach Jon Gruden.

After his time at Duke, Middleton became the tight ends coach and assistant special teams coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He worked there for eight years. During this time, he coached players like Marcedes Lewis, James O'Shaughnessy, and Clay Harbor.

After the 2020 season, he joined Coach Robert Saleh's staff with the New York Jets. In Week 16 of the 2021 season, Ron Middleton stepped in as the acting Head Coach for the Jets. This happened because Coach Saleh was out. The Jets won that game against the Jacksonville Jaguars 26–21. With the Jets, Middleton worked with young players like Jeremy Ruckert, Tyler Conklin, C. J. Uzomah, and Ryan Griffin.

In 2022, Middleton was the head coach for the National Team at the 2022 Senior Bowl. His team won 20–10. Ron Middleton and the Jets team parted ways on January 29, 2025.

Personal Life

Ron Middleton is married to Kalita. They have four children: Desmon, Ron, Zaria, and Mariah. In 1998, he earned a Master's degree in sports and fitness management from Troy University. In 2013, he was honored by being inducted into the Atmore Area Hall of Fame.