NFL Legend Jahvid Best Becomes High School Head Coach

Former Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best is the new head football coach at St. Mary’s College High School in Berkeley, California.

It will be Best's first head coaching job. He served as an assistant coach this past season at his alma mater, Salesian High School in Richmond, California.

During his high school playing days, Best was considered one of the best running backs in the nation. The 4-star college football recruit ran for 3,325 yards and 48 touchdowns as a senior in 2006, setting Bay Area single-season records.

Best finished his high school career with 6,379 rushing yards, a Bay Area record that stood for 10 years. 2021 Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick Najee Harris broke Best's record at Antioch High School in 2016.

Best had outstanding college football career at the University of California (Berkeley), winning First-Team All-Pac10 twice. Best was picked 30th overall by the Lions in the 2010 NFL Draft.

During his rookie season in 2010, Best rushed for 555 yards with four touchdowns. He also caught 58 passes for 487 yards with two touchdowns. However, his career was cut short by injuries. He played just 22 total NFL games in two seasons and was released by the Lions in 2013.

Best overcame those injuries to have a stellar second act as an athlete after retiring from football. Best trained as a sprinter and represented St. Lucia, his father's birth country, in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil. Best ran the 100-meter dash, finishing his heat in 10.39 seconds, but didn't qualify for the semifinals.

Photo: AP/Kiichiro Sato