Ron Middleton (American football) facts for kids

Ronald Allen Middleton, born on July 17, 1965, is a well-known American football coach and former player. He is currently the tight ends coach for the New York Jets in the National Football League (NFL). Middleton played college football for the Auburn Tigers. He also played in the NFL from 1986 to 1995, including time with the Washington Redskins. After his playing career, he coached college teams like the Troy Trojans, Ole Miss Rebels, and Duke Blue Devils. He also coached in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Early Life and College Football Journey

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

In 9th grade, he almost quit football to play the trumpet in the band. He dreamed of becoming a rock star! But his coach convinced him to stick with football. Ron graduated in 1982 when he was just 16 years old.

He then attended Auburn University. There, he played tight end for the Auburn Tigers. While he was on the team, the Tigers won three bowl games. He earned a degree in pre-law and history.

Playing Career in the NFL

In 1986, 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.

However, he successfully made the Redskins' team in 1990. Under Coach Joe Gibbs, he started 45 of 62 games over five seasons. Twelve of those games were during the 1991 season. That season led to Super Bowl XXVI. Washington won the Super Bowl, beating the Buffalo Bills 37–24.

In 1994, he moved to the Los Angeles Rams. He then played his final season in 1995 with the San Diego Chargers before retiring.

Becoming a Football Coach

After retiring from playing in 1995, Middleton thought about going to law school. He even took a course to prepare for the LSAT exam. But he soon realized he wanted to stay involved in football. His friends encouraged him to try coaching.

In 1997, he joined Troy University as the tight ends coach. He also started coaching offensive tackles and was an assistant special teams coach. After two seasons, he moved to Ole Miss.

At Ole Miss, he started as the tight ends coach. By the end of his five years there, he was also the running backs coach and special teams coordinator. He coached talented players like Jonathan Nichols.

In 2003, he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coaching staff. He became a full-time coach there in 2004 under Coach Jon Gruden. Gruden even selected him to attend a special NFL program for coaches in 2006.

Middleton spent the 2007 season at the University of Alabama. Then, he accepted a position at Duke University under Coach David Cutcliffe. At Duke, he coached players such as Ross Martin, Will Monday, and Cooper Helfet.

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

After the 2020 season, the Jaguars' coaching staff was let go. Middleton then joined Robert Saleh's staff with the New York Jets. In Week 16 of the 2021 season, Middleton stepped in as the acting Head Coach. This happened after Coach Saleh tested positive for COVID-19. The Jets won that game against the Jacksonville Jaguars 26–21 on December 26. In New York, Middleton has 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. This is a special game where top college players showcase their skills. The Jets' coaching staff was chosen to lead one of the teams. His team won 20–10 against the team coached by Duce Staley. In May 2014, Middleton was invited to an NFL coaching program. This program allowed him to meet with team owners.

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.