Central State University Head Football Coach Tony Carter is excited to welcome Leon Washington as the Marauders’ new Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach for the 2025 season. Washington, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, brings a wealth of playing and coaching experience at the highest levels of football. A standout at Andrew Jackson High School, Washington was named “Mr. Florida” in 2002 after rushing for 2,437 yards and 28 touchdowns, returning multiple kicks for scores, and making significant contributions on defense. He continued his football journey at Florida State University, where he played from 2002 to 2005. Originally recruited as a cornerback, Washington transitioned to running back and quickly made his mark by becoming the first true freshman at FSU to rush for 100 yards in a game since 1997. He led the Seminoles in rushing during the Sugar Bowl and earned ACC Specialist of the Week honors twice. Known for his dynamic playmaking ability, Washington became the only player in the Bobby Bowden era to score touchdowns five different ways—by run, reception, punt return, kickoff return, and fumble recovery—finishing his collegiate career with 2,041 rushing yards, 10th in FSU history.
Washington was selected by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft and played for the Jets, Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, and Tennessee Titans. He gained national recognition as one of the NFL’s top return specialists, earning two Pro Bowl selections and two All-Pro honors. Following his playing career, Washington began coaching with the Detroit Lions in 2019 as part of the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship and later served as a special teams assistant with the New York Jets from 2021 to 2023.
Coach Carter shared, “We’re thrilled to have Coach Washington join our program. His professional background as both a player and coach brings a high-level perspective to our offense. His energy, leadership, and detailed approach will be a huge asset to our quarterbacks and the entire team.” Central State is proud to welcome Leon Washington to the Marauder family as he begins this exciting new chapter in his football journey.
