Former Washington Redskins running back LaDell Betts is about to take on a new NFL job.

On Wednesday, Adam Schefter was the first to report that Betts, most recently the New York Giants‘ running backs coach, was moving on to Miami to become the Dolphins’ running backs coach. Betts played eight NFL seasons for the Redskins from 2002-2009. He was often unfairly thought of as merely a backup running back.

Advertisement

In Betts’ first season, he was the backup to Stephen Davis. Injury kept Betts down in 2003, only starting one game, and playing in only nine as Trung Canidate led the team in rushing.

Washington then traded for Clinton Portis in an ill-advised move, giving up future Hall of Fame corner Champ Bailey and a second-round pick for Portis. In his first two seasons in Washington, Portis rushed for 1,315 and 1,516 yards. But in 2006, Portis went down on the opening series of the preseason with a separated shoulder. Betts would get the call and show what he could do, rushing for 1,154 yards while averaging an impressive 4.7 yards per carry. Impressive because the vast majority of Redskins fans have forgotten that, though Portis was the starter during the 2004, 2005, and 2007-2009 seasons, he never averaged 4.7 yards per carry, as Betts did in his one season. Keep in mind, Betts did not have a small sample size of carries in that 2006 season. No, Betts actually totaled 245 carries and also contributed another 53 receptions.

His coaching career mirrors his NFL playing career. He was not given anything; he had to work his way up to get an opportunity. Thus, Betts coached high school football from 2013-2020. He began coaching running backs, then served as an offensive coordinator, and later became a head coach. Returning to his alma mater, Betts coached running backs at Iowa (2021-24). Last year, during the 2025 season, he coached the Giants’ running backs, and now he has joined the Miami Dolphins‘ new staff.

In that 2006 season, it should be noted, Betts rushed for 155 yards in a game against the Falcons and 171 yards in a game against the Eagles.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Longtime former RB lands new NFL job