Ladell Betts enters his first season as the running backs coach for the Giants after previously serving in the same position at the University of Iowa from 2021-24.
In 2024, Betts mentored Kaleb Johnson to a single-season school record 21 rushing touchdowns to go along with 1,537 rushing yards, the third-highest total in program history. Johnson accounted for 40 percent of the offensive yards for the Hawkeyes. He finished as a finalist for the Doak Walker Award and was also named the Big Ten Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year.
During the 2022 season, Johnson earned Freshman All-America honors after rushing for an Iowa freshman-record 779 yards and six touchdowns.
In Betts' first season on Iowa's staff in 2021, he overlapped with current Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr., who played wide receiver at the time. Iowa finished the year ranked 23rd after posting a 10-win season, including clinching the Big Ten West Division and an appearance in the Citrus Bowl.
Prior to his stint at Iowa, Betts was the head coach at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. in 2019 and 2020, where he previously served as the offensive coordinator from 2016-18.
Betts held his first offensive coordinator role at Boca Raton High School from 2014-15. Betts began his high school coaching career as the running backs coach at Coral Springs Christian Academy in 2013.
A 2nd round selection (56th overall) in 2002, Betts spent eight seasons (2002-09) with Washington and compiled 3,176 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns on 776 attempts. He also caught 165 passes for 1,505 yards and three touchdowns. In 2006 Betts had the best year of his career as he rushed for 1,154 yards and four touchdowns on 245 attempts and caught 53 passes for 445 yards and one touchdown.
Betts finished his playing career with the New Orleans Saints in 2010, where he played in eight games and rushed 45 times for 150 yards and two touchdowns while catching 23 passes for 141 yards.
Betts played four seasons at Iowa (1998-2001) and led the Hawkeyes in rushing all four years he was on campus. His 830 career rushing attempts are the most by any Iowa player, while his 3,682 career rushing yards are the second-most in program history. Betts earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2000 and 2001 after surpassing the 1,000-yard mark in both of those seasons.
Betts earned his bachelor's degree from Iowa in 2001. A native of Blue Springs, Mo., Betts and his wife, Shatarah, have five daughters and one son.
2025: New York Giants - Running Backs
2021-24: University of Iowa - Running Backs
2019-20: Pine Crest High School - Head Coach
2016-18: Pine Crest High School - Offensive Coordinator
2014-15: Boca Raton High School - Offensive Coordinator
2013: Coral Springs Christian Academy - Running Backs
