Rasul Douglas was anguishing on the practice squad of the Arizona Cardinals when the Green Bay Packers came calling. The team had lost Jaire Alexander to a season-ending shoulder injury and was in desperate need of depth at cornerback. What followed was one of the most amazing career turnarounds in recent memory. Not only did Douglas intercept five passes and become one of the highest graded defensive backs in the NFL, but he also got a three-year $21 million contract from Green Bay earlier this year. What led to his amazing breakout campaign? If Rasul Douglas is to be believed, it was Packers defensive backs coach, Jerry Gray.
Rasul Douglas Credits Jerry Gray with His Success in 2021
When Rasul Douglas addressed the media following the signing of his contract, he had nothing but praise for Jerry Gray, who he called the best coach he’s ever played for:
“I got coached by a coach who actually played. My assistant coach actually played in the league for years. [Coach Gray] was an All-Pro. He allowed us to be in great positions. He didn’t want to put us in any position that he didn’t see himself playing.
Going into the 2021 season, Rasul Douglas had five career interceptions in 60 career games. In 12 games with the Packers, Douglas had five more interceptions, including two that he returned for touchdowns. Additionally, Douglas deflected a career-high 13 passes and forced a fumble. Douglas’ advanced stats look just as impressive. In 2021, he allowed just 32 receptions on 64 targets, good for a low 50% catch rate. Opposing quarterbacks also had just a 44.5 passer rating when throwing his way.
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here! Also, check out our merch store for some amazing WSH merchandise!
