Tyrone Wheatley is in his first year as running backs coach for the Denver Broncos in 2022. He was hired by the club on Feb. 16.

Tyrone Wheatley is in his first year as running backs coach for the Denver Broncos in 2022. He was hired by the club on Feb. 16.

A 15-year coaching veteran, Wheatley has 11 years of experience coaching the running back position, including four in the NFL. His previous NFL stops include Buffalo (2013-14) and Jacksonville (2017-18).

Prior to joining the Broncos, Wheatley served as Morgan State's head coach for three seasons from 2019-21. During his tenure, Wheatley led the program to five wins despite the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's cancelation of the 2020 fall football season (COVID-19).

Overseeing Jacksonville's running back room from 2017-18, Wheatley helped orchestrate a rushing attack that averaged 124.6 rushing yards per game over his two seasons. In 2018, the Jaguars posted the NFL's best rushing attack (141.4 ypg) and tallied the second-most rushing touchdowns (18) that year.

Wheatley coached running back Leonard Fournette, who as a rookie in 2017, rushed 268 times for 1,040 yards (3.9 avg.) with nine touchdowns. In Wheatley's two seasons coaching the position in Jacksonville, five different running backs recorded at least one touchdown, including four players who scored multiple times.

Before Jacksonville, Wheatley spent the 2015-16 collegiate seasons coaching running backs for his alma mater, the University of Michigan. Wheatley was part of a coaching staff that guided the team to consecutive 10-3 seasons and back-to-back appearances in a bowl game.

In his first season at Michigan, the Wolverines rushing attack collected over 2,000 yards on the ground with 27 touchdowns. The following year, Michigan rushed for 212.9 yards per game and registered 304 rushes for 2,768 yards (4.8 avg.) with 41 scores.

Wheatley's first stint in the NFL came as running backs coach for Buffalo from 2013-14. In his first season with the team in 2013, the Bills produced the league's second ranked rushing attack (144.2 ypg) and had two rushers (C.J. Spiller & Fred Jackson) who each collected over 850 yards rushing while combining for 11 rushing scores.

Preceding his time in the NFL, Wheatley spent five seasons coaching running backs in the collegiate ranks. He spent the 2008 season at Ohio Northern before spending one season (2009) at Eastern Michigan and three years (2010-12) at Syracuse.

Wheatley began his coaching career at Robichaud High School (Dearborn Heights, Mich.), where he served as head football coach for the Bulldogs in 2007. That season, Robichaud went 9-2 in the regular season and was a perfect 6-0 in league play.

A former first-round selection (17th overall) of the N.Y. Giants in the 1995 NFL Draft, Wheatley, played 10 seasons in the league from 1995-2004. He appeared in 124 career regular-season games (42 starts), totaling 1,270 rushes for 4,962 yards (3.9 avg.) with 40 touchdowns to go along with 125 receptions for 900 yards (7.2 avg.) with seven scores.

A distinguished running back at Michigan from 1991-94, Wheatley was a three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection (1992-94) and was the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year as a sophomore in 1992. He broke the 1,000-yard rushing mark in three of his four seasons and amassed 4,187 rushing yards, 510 receiving yards and 53 total touchdowns.

In addition to football, Wheatley also had a standout track & field career, winning three letters from 1993-95. He earned an All-American citation in the 110-meter hurdles during the NCAA Championships in 1995 and also won the Big Ten's Outdoor title in the 1994 110-meter hurdles.

A native of Inkster, Mich., Wheatley earned his bachelor's degree from Michigan in 2008 and was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. He and his wife, Kimberly, have five children, Tyrone Jr., Terius, Tyrique, Tiana and Tamari.

COACHING EXPERIENCE

Denver Broncos

Running Backs                                    2022

Morgan State University

Head Coach                                        2019-21

Jacksonville Jaguars

Running Backs                                    2017-18

University of Michigan

Running Backs                                    2015-16

Buffalo Bills

Running Backs                                    2013-14

Syracuse University

Running Backs                                    2010-12

Eastern Michigan University

Running Backs                                    2009

Ohio Northern University

Running Backs                                    2008

Robichaud High School (Mich.)

Head Coach                                        2007