Former Chiefs DB Jason Belser hired as high school coach

Former Kansas City Chiefs DB Jason Belser has been named the new high school football coach for a D.C. area school.

Jason Belser has been named the new head football coach at Freedom High School in South Riding, Virginia, located in Loudoun County. It will be the first head coaching role for the former Kansas City Chiefs defensive back.

Belser played for the Chiefs back after the turn of the millenium in 2001 and 2002. He played in all 32 games during those years for the Chiefs, but started only 8, with a single interception to his name, 2 fumble recoveries and 69 total tackles. Belser came to Kansas City after a strong near-decade career with the Indianapolis Colts, for whom he started 126 total games. Belser suited up for the Colts from 1992 to 2000 and 13 interceptions, including 3 touchdowns, 785 total tackles, 9 sacks, 7 forced fumbles and 10 fumble recoveries.

Belser is originally from Raytown, Missouri, but ended up in the D.C. area after retiring from the game, going to work at the NFL Player’s Association offices. From there, he entered in high school coaching as an assistant defensive coordinator last season with Stone Bridge High School. Now he takes the reins for Freedom, who finished with a losing record at 4-5 in 2016.

"“There’s talent there. My challenge is finding the talent that doesn’t realize they’re talented,” he said. “There’s a lot of good athletes in the school. A lot of multisport athletes. We have to create an environment where the student body is talking about, ‘Hey, I need to go play football.’”"