RUNS IN THE FAMILY
Jets DC happy to be on field for son’s rise
This is the first time Jets defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers has gotten the opportunity to coach his son.
“I wasn’t able to coach his little league team, I didn’t coach his soccer team, I didn’t coach his AAU team, I didn’t coach his little league basketball team,” Rodgers told the media on day two of the Jets’ minicamp. “The first time I get to coach my son is in the National Football League.” “That’s a little different.” Kacy Rodgers II, who signed with the Jets in early February, said he sees his opportunity to fulfill his dream of playing in the NFL and hopes to take advantage of it, though his chances of making the final roster is slim.
Having his dad on the sidelines is an added bonus.
“It’s awesome, just being here with him in the building all the time because we haven’t necessarily had that experience in the past.” the 6-foot-2 safety told The Post. “At this point, I don’t think I could let my dad down regardless — make the team or not — I think he’s pretty happy with what I’ve accomplished so far.”
The 26-year-old recalled that growing up, before his athletic career kicked off, he would spend as much time as he could around his dad’s office and in and out of locker rooms.
Now having his own locker, in the same building as his dad’s office, feels pretty surreal.
“I’m a pretty self-motivated person just because I know what I had to do to get here, but sure, any kid doesn’t want to let their parents down,” said Rodgers II, who is trying to make the Jets as a safety. “Hopefully I can just keep making him and my mom happy.”
Rodgers, who has been with the Jets since 2015, is particularly proud of his son’s battle to get his chance at the NFL. He noted how his son was not drafted out of Miami, but stuck with it, turning to the Canadian Football League and jumping from the practice squad to eventually becoming a starter.
Even though his son is on the field, the former two-year NFL-er is focused on the job at hand.
“I get on him no different than any other,” the 48-year-old said. “That’s my son when we walk outside the building, but when he walks in the building he’s number 39.”
“He’s got a job to do, no different than number 33 or number 36,” he added.
As the three-day minicamp comes to a close, Rodgers II has his sights set on a new challenge other than making the Jets’ roster: beating his dad at golf on Father’s Day.
“Golf is definitely our thing, hopefully I can beat him again like I usually do,” Rodgers II said. “It’ll be nice to hang out with my dad outside of the work setting again and just get back to doing what we do best, being a family.”