Steelers Wide Receivers coach Darryl Drake passed away Sunday morning on August 11, at the age of 62. Drake had an incredible career that led him to coach some of the best receivers of this generation.
Steelers coach Drake started off his career at Western Kentucky as a wide receiver, he was later drafted out of college. He would stick around for a few years as a professional player by spending time with the Washington Redskins, Cincinnati Bengals, and even spending time in Canada playing for the Ottawa Rough Riders.
Drake would then move onto coaching as he went back to his alma mater of Western Kentucky for the next 8 years. He would also coach at Georgia, Baylor, and Texas over an 11 year span. Drake would finally gain his first job in the NFL as a receivers coach for the Chicago Bears.
He would help Chicago go to Super Bowl 41 only to lose to the Indianapolis Colts. He coached for 8 years under Lovie Smith in the Chicago colors. Drake would coach players like Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall during his tenure in Chicago. After Marc Trestman was hired on to become the new Head Coach of the Bears, Drake parted ways and moved on with the Arizona Cardinals.
He was with the Cardinals for 4 seasons and got to coach one of the best players to ever play at the wide receiver position, Larry Fitzgerald. He would help John Brown have his best season in 2015 with over 1,000 yards and 7 touch downs. Drake would also help Michael Floyd have his best season in 2013, totaling over 1,000 yards and 5 touch downs.
Drake would move onto Pittsburgh in 2018 to coach a very talented group of receivers, replacing Richard Mann. He would coach players like Antonio Brown, Juju Smith-Schuster, Ryan Switzer and James Washington while he was in the steel city.
Drake was going into his second season as the man leading the receiving core in Pittsburgh. He had a strong relationship with Mike Tomlin and that is what led him to accepting the job with the Steelers.
He helped players like Ryan Switzer gain meaningful reps with the Steelers last season. Drake also helped a rookie become a household name, Juju. Juju Smith-Schuster would explode onto the scene in his second year with over 1,400 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Coach Drake was taken so suddenly but he leaves behind a coaching career by teaching some of the best players in the league how to excel as wide receivers. Players like Larry Fitzgerald, Brandon Marshall, Antonio Brown, Alshon Jeffery, and Juju Smith-Schuster are all examples of the legacy left by the great Coach Drake.
Football is just a game and his family lost more than anyone else today. They lost a father, husband, and grandfather. Rest easy coach Drake.