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Penn State football is losing a key off-field staff member to the NFL

Greg Pickelby: Greg Pickel05/30/25GregPickel
Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin before the Fiesta Bowl against the Boise State Broncos at State Farm Stadium. (Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin before the Fiesta Bowl against the Boise State Broncos at State Farm Stadium. (Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)

A key and longtime member of the Penn State football support staff is leaving the Nittany Lions for a job in the NFL. Destiny Rodriguez, who has been with the program for two different stints and most recently since 2018, is taking a job with the New York Jets. The PSU alum has been head coach James Franklin’s Director of External Operations since 2022. Before that, she worked in the program’s recruiting department.

“.@coachjfranklin gave me the opportunity to learn, grow & be a part of a family,” Rodriguez wrote on social media. “There aren’t enough words to express how thankful I am, or how much love I have for the Franklins & this team. But I’m excited to take the next step in my journey & join the New York Jets!”

Rodriguez had various behind-the-scenes tasks within the program. They included, but were hardly limited to, joining Franklin at public events and being the liaison between the team and a variety of university and athletic department staffs. Franklin even suggested at one point that she handled his social media during the season.

Penn State currently seeks a new Director of External Operations for Football. According to a job posting, the new hire will have the following responsibilities:

–Assist the Chief of Staff and Director of Football Administration with various regular season, post season and bowl travel responsibilities and manage and execute special projects as assigned by the Chief of Staff or Head Football Coach

–Develop, lead, manage, evaluate and provide semester grades for four operations interns  

–Accompany the Head Football Coach to speaking events that can be used to recruit supporters and obtain donations

–Oversee creative process of design as it pertains to construction, environmental graphics, clothing/licensing, Journey to Success presentations and social media

–Act as the Football program’s liaison to: Strategic Communications (media requests and press release, quotes, etc); Creative Services (Football social media planning and approval); Media and Video Productions (Football video approval and ideas); Penn State Sports Properties (Football sponsorship fulfillment); Alumni Association; Marketing (Football marketing plan, gameday environment, etc)

–Plan, organize and execute the special events

Penn State offseason staff changes

While the departure of Tom Allen and hiring of Jim Knowles was the most high-profile staffing change of the 2025 Penn State offseason, it’s hardly the only one. Here’s a rundown:

Ja’Juan Seider left for Notre Dame. Penn State made Stan Drayton its new running backs coach.

Offensive line analyst Frank Leonard retired

Penn State hired Andrew Jackson and letterman Greg Gattuso as analysts focusing on the defensive line

Knowles brought with him two former colleagues, Shane Eachus and Brent Zdebski, with him in analyst roles

Special teams analyst Keith Bruno left the Lions after spring ball. Allen Tucker replaced him

Nittany Lion letterman Aeneas Hawkins is the team’s new Assistant Director of Player Advancement & Revenue Sharing Strategy.

Former Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley is back as the assistant quarterbacks coach.

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