I'm not sure of the narrative you speak of.

But while we are going down this road, how many kids on the high school team where you teach could coach a little league team effectively? I mean they are better players than those 8 year olds so it should be easy. How many of the high school band students could effectively teach beginners to play their instrument? How about your best saxophone player working with the beginning trumpets?

Ah, but they haven't been "taught" those things. If they went to college and learned to teach they'd be able to do that right? Isn't that what coaches do too?

An NFL player has never stopped playing long enough to learn all of the other aspects of the game. They are masters of their position and skill set no doubt. And while some of them learn other aspects, (usually QB's have a better understanding of the entire offense and not just their position), they don't just understand the nuances or the skills required for other positions. I would guess most NFL coaches played at the collegiate level but when that career ended they became grad assistants and learned to coach. Their path became different than the NFL player who continued to study their craft, spend time in the weight room, and study film to get better. They spent time working with specialists to build speed and coordination.

Someone that plays the game from age 6 to age 35 has never stopped long enough to learn to coach. That's why you see those young college coaches jumping all over the place. They start as a position coach, then a different position coach, then work up to a coordinator. Maybe they stay the college route or maybe they move to a high school or a junior college as a DC/OC and then work their way up to head coach. Heck, there are a number of great college coaches that crash and burn when they try the NFL. There is years of learning and work that go into being an effective coach at all levels and especially the NFL. But you assume an NFL player should walk into a coaching position when they retire? In 10 years you will see a number of these coordinators and position coaches ready to move into those head coaching positions. It takes time and experience. I just hope we let it happen naturally out of respect for those coaches busting their butts and learning their craft.

I know I was a better teacher in year 20 than I was in year 2. Same thing with coaches.