MOREHEAD, Ky. -- For many young football athletes, the dream of being in the NFL is the ultimate goal. For two Morehead State football alums, they have reached that goal but in a unique way.

Charles Byrd and Morris Henry, both defensive backs when they suited up for the Eagles, are both assistant strength and conditioning coaches in the NFL. Byrd is now is his 13th season with the New Orleans Saints, while Henry was recently hired by the Detroit Lions. Byrd even helped the Saints to the 2010 Super Bowl title.

Byrd, who starred at MSU from 2001-04, was a two-time All-American (2003 and 2004) playing for head coach Matt Ballard. Henry roamed the field for head coaches Ballard and Rob Tenyer from 2010-14.

Both took similar routes to the NFL as well, getting experience with college programs. Byrd, who is from Oxford, Ohio, interned at Miami (Ohio) for two years while Henry, from Orlando, Fla., was a graduate assistant at Tulsa in 2015 and 2016 and was an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Auburn from 2016-20. He earned his bachelor's degree from MSU in 2015 and earned his Master's Degree from Auburn in 2019. Byrd received his bachelor's degree from MSU.

Both enjoy the challenges and rewards of their NFL positions.

"I love everything about my job, and it is a joy to work with the best athletes in the world everyday," said Byrd. "Unlike a position coach who just mainly works with their position I get to work with the entire team. It is fun to come up with different workouts for multiple position groups and work with a variety of players. It is a joy to be able to motivate and inspire them to become the strongest and fastest they can be so they can perform on the football field."

"The ability to build lasting relationships with the athletes and help add value to their lives on and off the field is what I enjoy," Henry added.

In today's fast-paced NFL environment, added advantages in strength and endurance are key components in having the upperhand. Henry believes building relationships with players is steadfast.

"I believe communication and being able to build positive relationships is important," he said. "Communication is key to know how to approach different athletes whether they are a freshman in college or a 10-year veteran in the NFL. Everyone learns in their own way, so knowing their learning style and how to communicate with them is critical. Relationship building is the "secret sauce" I'd say to having an effective program. I want the athletes to know that I genuinely care for their well-being."

Byrd agreed that displaying for genuine care for the athletes is paramount.

"The most important thing in my opinion is to show the players how much you care about them and their success. I always want the players to know I have their back," he said. "It is important to help them build confidence both physically and mentally. Consistency is also key, and you have to have the players trust your program so everyone is on the same page. 

So, what is a typical work day like?

"During the season I typically get to work around 6 a.m. and finish the day around 6 p.m. We start the day by getting the weight room set up so everything is ready when the players come in. The players have the option to either lift in the morning or after practice," said Byrd. "We have a team meeting followed by position meetings. After position meetings we have practice. Before practice we have some guys that we individually stretch and get their bodies activated. We then lead a team stretch. During practice I help out the defensive backs with individual drills. If we have any injured guys that aren't participating in practice then we will put them thru a workout. In the weight room we spot guys and make sure they are using proper technique. We teach, motivate, and inspire."

Having worked with college and professional athletes now, Henry sees many differences but some similarities in routines and preferences between collegiate players and NFL athletes.

"From a training perspective, NFL athletes typically have a higher training age. They know that the approach to their physical development is different, whether that is using different methods of strength training to potentially gain an edge within strength and power development or even better overall movement quality. Within a collegiate athlete the overall development can be spread out over a 3-4 year plan and can allow for the athlete to develop year by year physically and mentally with the end goal to be draft eligible for the NFL. Both NFL and collegiate athletes want to be coached "hard" when the right relationships are built."

Both of these Eagles also agree that they could not be in their current positions and set up for success without having been a part of the Morehead State football program.

"My time at MSU was great, and I wouldn't be where I'm at today without those experiences. I came into college as a young freshman who didn't know much and was just trying to make an impact. As coach Ballard said 'you came here as a young kid and now your a man.'  The coaches and the entire staff allowed me to be myself and I was able grow everyday," said Byrd. "The coaches challenged us to be great and pushed us to the limit. They motivated me to do things I wouldn't have ever imagined I could do. A lot of that has carried over to what I now do on a daily basis. My teammates were great motivators as well and I never wanted to let them down.  I was a three-time captain and that really helped me with what I do today. It really taught me how to be a true leader and it made me realize how many people depended on me and the way I carried myself. Everyone looked up to me and I had to set the tone everyday which is what I try to do now with my kids and my players."

Henry said he had many MSU mentors who helped him achieve his goals.

"It was a blessing from God first and foremost to have an opportunity to play football and get an education from Morehead State University. The principles of C3 - Character, Community and Championship Effort - that Coach Tenyer brought to the team when he took over as head coach really stuck with me. Being on the team really instilled a selfless mindset and the relationships I built with my teammates are still strong till this day. Many coaches that I have been blessed to play under have had such a big impact like no other. Coach Chris Fee, Coach Sean Williamson and Coach Matt Rhodes, who is currently the head strength coach at Morehead State now, all three have had an impact on me as a player and person and helped influence me to want to become a strength and conditioning coach. Also, my previous position coaches Paul Humphries, Rod West and Dontae Wright all have impacted me in a special way and I still continue to keep in touch with those coaches as well. Outside of football academically, Dr. Charles Holloway, who was the chief diversity officer, really instilled a "Handle your business" mindset when it came to my academics."

Byrd currently lives in Louisiana with his wife Nicole and three kids, Charles Jr., Gabrielle and Myla-Rose.

This coming season when the Saints and Lions play, you can spot Byrd and Henry on the NFL sidelines.