QB trainer Malcolm Bell, Virginia State assistant Trumaine Watson soaked up NFL opportunity this week
Malcolm Bell was spending time with his family in mid-May when a special opportunity landed in his inbox.
He had no idea the email was coming; he hadn’t spoken with anyone about the program to which he was invited. But it was something in which he had been interested.
Bell — a former standout at Henrico High and at North Carolina Central and now an in-demand trainer through his Richmond-based Undefeated Quarterback Training business — was picked to be an attendee in this year’s NFL Quarterback Coaching Summit.
The annual program, which had its fourth iteration this year and is organized in conjunction with the Black College Football Hall of Fame, gives minority coaches the opportunity to hear from and chat with NFL personnel about the football profession as they continue to advance in the field.
“It was just like a crazy feeling, because it literally came out of nowhere,” Bell said of his invitation. “It was something that I wasn’t necessarily searching for. But I guess if you’re doing good work then they find a way to find the people that are.”
From the area, Virginia State offensive line coach/recruiting coordinator Trumaine Watson was invited to attend the summit for the second year in a row.
The event took place virtually, over Zoom, on Tuesday and Wednesday, with several hours of programming each day, including speakers who ranged from Falcons owner Arthur Blank to Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
Bell and Watson found it valuable, as they begin to take what they gleaned back to their respective roles.
“It was so many people on there with interesting backgrounds that started, to be honest, exactly where we are right now,” Bell said. “And have worked their way up the ranks and have been able to flourish and get a spot in the NFL.”
The Quarterback Coaching Summit followed the first Ozzie Newsome General Manager Forum on Monday, another collaboration between the NFL and the Black College Football Hall of Fame. A combined 150 people were invited to the events.
In a news release about them, NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said they’re “part of our ongoing efforts to break mobility barriers, establish a cultural norm of opportunity for all, and a steadfast commitment to developing a diverse and inclusive workforce.”
“Participants will be exposed to best practices used by the brightest and most creative minds in football as well as networking opportunities to build relationships and gain personal insights.”
Watson, a 2010 graduate of Virginia Union where he played center, got into the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship in 2019 through connections that included Virginia State coach Reggie Barlow, who played in the NFL for eight years. The fellowship places minority coaches with NFL teams during the offseason, including training camps, to work and learn in those environments.