Jemal Singleton in 2020 enters his second season with the Bengals, and fifth as an NFL coach. He will again serve as the Bengals' running backs coach, where he heads a room led by HB Joe Mixon, a two-time 1000-yard rusher.
Last season, Singleton helped Mixon to his second straight 1000-yard campaign. Mixon's 2020 campaign, though, will be remembered most for his massive turnaround — the third-year pro was the league's second-leading rusher (817 yards) over the final eight weeks, after totaling just 320 rushing yards over the first eight weeks. The Bengals' ground game was a major part of the offense's second-half resurgence last season, as it averaged 70.6 more rushing yards per game in the second half of the season (130.1) than the first (59.5).
Prior to his time in Cincinnati, Singleton spent the 2018 season as running backs coach for the Oakland Raiders. Under his guidance, Raiders RB Jalen Richard stepped into an increased offensive role and tallied a career-high 68 catches, which tied for the team lead and were the fourth-most in a single season by a running back in team history.
From 2016-17, Singleton served as running backs coach for the Indianapolis Colts, where he guided RB Frank Gore to the first 1000-yard season by a Colts rusher in nine years. Gore in 2016 also became just the fourth running back in NFL history — and the first since John Riggins in 1984 — to top 1000 rushing yards at age 33 or older.
Singleton spent the 2015 season as special teams coordinator/running backs coach at the University of Arkansas, where he helped guide Razorbacks RB Alex Collins to career highs in every major rushing category, including rushing yards (1577) and TDs (20). Collins was named second-team All-SEC, a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award (given annually to the nation's top running back), and was drafted in the fifth round by Seattle.
From 2011-14, Singleton served as running backs coach at Oklahoma State University. In his first two seasons in Stillwater, Singleton helped Cowboys RB Joseph Randle earn back-to-back first-team All-Big 12 honors. Joseph scored 24 TDs in 2011 while helping the Cowboys to a Big 12 title, and in '12 he led the conference with 1417 rushing yards. In 2013, Singleton helped guide OSU's running backs to 35 rushing TDs, and in '14 his running backs combined for more than 500 touches without committing a single turnover.
Prior to his time at Oklahoma State, Singleton spent nine years (2000, '03-10) on Air Force's coaching staff. He served as a run game coordinator/running backs coach (2007-10), running backs coach ('06), varsity assistant coach ('03-05) and a prep assistant ('00). In his tenure as running backs coach, Singleton led the Falcons to a conference rushing title and a top-10 national ranking in rush offense each year, highlighted by a 2010 season that featured the nation's No. 2 rushing attack (306.5 yards per game) and 41 total touchdowns (tied a Mountain West Conference record).
In 2001, Singleton was stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville, Ark. He served as the Chief of Media Relations, as part of his military service commitment. In 2003, he returned to the Air Force Academy as the junior varsity defensive coordinator and varsity assistant coach. He began his coaching career in 2000 as a prep assistant, specifically as the team's assistant head coach/offensive coordinator.
As a player, Singleton was a three-year (1996-98) letter-winner at running back for the Air Force Academy, and was one of just six players in program history to be elected a two-time captain. He totaled 941 career rushing yards on 175 carries, with four TDs, and was an All-WAC honorable mention selection. He helped the Falcons win 10 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time in school history, including their first outright conference title in 1998.
Born Dec. 7, 1975 in Incirlik, Turkey, Singleton was the son of an Air Force Sergeant. He holds a bachelor's degree in social sciences from Air Force. He and his wife, Jennifer, have two daughters, Morgan and Mallory.
Playing and coaching history: 1996-99—Played halfback, Air Force. 2000, '03-10—Assistant coach (AC), Air Force. 2011-14—AC, Oklahoma State. 2015—AC, Arkansas. 2016-17—AC, Indianapolis Colts. 2018—AC, Oakland Raiders. 2019-present—AC, Cincinnati Bengals.
