The Athletic has released its “40 Under 40″ list for the NFL, a listing of 40 important people to the future of the league who are all under 40 years old. People mentioned are considered rising stars in the NFL pantheon.
To nobody’s surprise who follows the Detroit Lions, defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant made the list. Pleasant earned his way into the exclusive club for his proven history of player development and personnel management he’s shown in his coaching stops in Los Angeles and now Detroit, where he’s entering his second season.
Lindsay Jones, who compiled the list for The Athletic, notes that Pleasant has already interviewed for more prominent jobs and how well-received his hands-on coaching style is received by players. Pleasant, 35, isn’t shy about going onto the practice field and personally demonstrating exactly what he wants from his players.
The list features a broad swath of different career arcs within the NFL umbrella, from the Chargers social media director to the league’s management council director along with several coaches and agents.