I learned through apprenticeship. I was an assistant to a defensive coach, and I'm still learning.
Brendan DalyAfter several years in the league, when a player becomes a vested veteran in the NFL, they play under a different set of rules. For instance, if you cut a vested veteran mid-season and they don't get picked up by another team, you owe them the remainder of their salary.
Brendan DalyJobs are hard to come by, so players are extremely motivated to do whatever it takes to keep their job.
Brendan DalyMore often than not, you find players seeing something that they can help another player with or reinforce something the coaches are seeing. Veterans do that regularly with younger players.
Brendan Daly