An obligation to give back.' Former NFL players are reshaping high school football.

Former NFL players are increasingly reshaping high school football, with Bucky Brooks emblematic of the trend. Nearly 30 years after his NFL career ended, the 55-year-old is coaching at Granada Hills High, helping the next generation by teaching the game rather than playing it. USA Today data cited in the article says 128 high school head coaches in the U.S. are former NFL players. Examples include Carson Palmer, a Heisman winner and No. 1 USC pick, who is coaching Santa Margarita after retiring from the NFL in 2018 and now emphasizes “NFL routes” and detailed development. Palmer’s first season followed a second preseason opener, with the school opening Friday against Jones High coached by former Falcons defensive back Elijah Williams. The piece also points to Philip Rivers coaching his four-star son Gunner at St. Michael Catholic High.