When Rashad Watson walks into Arrowhead Stadium, it will be the culmination of a lifelong dream.
“As a kid, I always wanted to play or coach in the NFL,” he said. “It’s come true in a sense.”
Rashad Watson, the Lions’ defensive coordinator, will join the Kansas City Chiefs for a pre-season internship.
The defensive coordinator for the Missouri Southern football team, Watson was recently selected to participate in the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship. Starting around the middle of July, he will join the Kansas City Chiefs for the chance to observe and participate in pre-season activities and gain valuable coaching experience.
“For the past several years, I’ve sent my resume off to the head coaches of all the NFL teams, with a letter to the head coach asking for an internship with their organization,” said Watson. “I usually get letters back telling me thanks for applying.”
This year, however, was different. Instead of a letter, he received a text message.
“I was sitting here in my office and heard my phone go off,” he said. “I decided to take a break, walk around the building and check my phone.”
The text message was from David Culley, assistant head coach for the Chiefs, asking Watson to give him a call. Needless to say, Watson immediately returned the call.
“(Culley) told me, ‘This is your lucky year … seven is your lucky number,’” he said. “I thanked him, told him I appreciated the opportunity and wouldn’t let him down.”
Watson will report to work for the Chiefs in mid-July, though he won’t be able to stay for the duration of the pre-season.
“I can’t stay for the whole pre-season because of my obligations (to Missouri Southern’s team),” he said. “But I’m grateful to be able to learn as much as I can from them. Every opportunity you get to meet someone in your profession could lead to something else down the road.”
Before joining the Lions three years ago, Watson served as defensive coach for two years at Benedict College. Prior to that, he coached at Nicholls State University and Morehouse College.
“Missouri Southern has been good to me, my wife loves her job, and things have progressed for the team, the university and now for myself,” he said. “It’s a blessing all the way around.”