In this edition of Long Blue Leadership, we’re exploring the evolution and elevation of leadership with a leader who knows what it means to build champions in every sense of the word.



SUMMARY

Jemal Singleton ’99 is a mentor, a motivator and has mastered the grind. From the military to NFL locker rooms, he has forged a path rooted in service, strength and success. Learn more about masterful game planning and get ready to be inspired! 

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COACH SINGLETON'S LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS

 - Coach Singleton emphasizes the importance of leading with conviction.

 - He learned to connect with people through immersive cultural experiences.

 - The Super Bowl victory was a culmination of focus and teamwork.

 - Growing up as a military brat shaped his adaptability and leadership.

 - Family dynamics played a crucial role in his development as a leader.

 - Discovering the Air Force Academy was a pivotal moment in his life.

 - Basic training taught him valuable lessons about overcoming fear.

 - His leadership style evolved through experiences at the Academy.

 - Transitioning from military to coaching was a significant decision.

 - Failures in his career have provided the greatest learning opportunities.

 - Success and failure are both essential for growth.

 - Belief in others can significantly impact their performance.

 - Understanding individual motivations is key to effective leadership.

 - Mentorship plays a crucial role in shaping leaders.

 - Building relationships is foundational to leadership success.

 - Balancing family and work is vital for personal fulfillment.

 - Grit and resilience are important traits in leadership.

 - Investing in personal growth enhances leadership effectiveness.

 - Daily routines help maintain focus and discipline.

 - Leadership can be demonstrated from any position. 

EPISODE CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Leadership Insights

04:30 Jamal's Early Life and Military Influence

08:00 Family Dynamics and Leadership Development

11:35 Basic Training and Leadership Challenges

14:52 Growth at the Air Force Academy

18:58 Transitioning from Military to Coaching

21:34 Navigating Career Decisions

22:57 Facing Failures and Learning from Them

26:18 Navigating Success and Failure

27:38 The Power of Belief in Leadership

29:58 Understanding Individual Motivations

32:40 Influences and Inspirations in Leadership

34:05 Building Relationships as a Leadership Foundation

36:02 Balancing Family and Professional Life

38:23 Lessons in Grit from Home

40:38 Investing in Personal Growth

42:41 Daily Routines for Effective Leadership

44:36 Striving for Continuous Improvement

47:27 Leading from Any Position

49:14 Final Thoughts on Leadership and the Academy

ABOUT JEMAL

BIO

Jemal Singleton ’99, is a veteran coach with over 20 years of experience at the collegiate and professional levels. He is currently the Philadelphia Eagles' running backs/assistant head coach. Under his leadership, the Eagles have made four consecutive playoff runs, capturing two conference titles and the Super Bowl LIX Championship. From 2021–24, Philadelphia led the NFL in rushing touchdowns (108) and ranked among the top three in rushing yards per game (153.9) and yards per carry (4.7). Singleton helped three different running backs earn Pro Bowl honors during this span.

In 2024, Singleton coached a historic ground game led by Saquon Barkley, who rushed for 2,005 yards in the regular season and 2,504 total, earning AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Pro honors. The Eagles set a league record with 3,866 team rushing yards.

Previously, Singleton helped guide D’Andre Swift (2023) and Miles Sanders (2022) to their first Pro Bowls, with both ranking in the top five in rushing yards. In 2021, Philadelphia led the league in both rushing yards and touchdowns.

Before joining the Eagles, Singleton coached running backs for the Bengals (2019–20), Raiders (2018), and Colts (2016–17), mentoring talents like Joe Mixon, Jalen Richard, and Frank Gore. His collegiate experience includes Arkansas (2015) and Oklahoma State (2011–14), where he coached standout backs such as Alex Collins and Joseph Randle.

Singleton began his coaching career at the Air Force Academy, his alma mater, spending nine years in various roles and helping the Falcons consistently rank among the top rushing teams in the nation. A former team captain and honorable mention All-WAC running back, Singleton led Air Force to consecutive 10-win seasons and a conference title.

A San Antonio native and son of a retired Air Force Sergeant, Singleton holds a degree in social sciences and lives with his wife, Jennifer. He has two daughters, Morgan and Mallory.

 - Bio excerpted from philadelphiaeagles.com 

 - Image credit:  Mr. Ryan Hall

CONNECT WITH JEMAL

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WITH OUR SPECIAL APPRECIATION TO THE EAGLES' PRODUCTION TEAM

Eagles Team (Center L-R):  JohnPaul Beattie | Wes Lauria | Kelleher |  Haley Mccullough | Alex Barson

(L) LBL Host, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz ’99 | (R) Guest, Jemal Singleton ’99

 - Image credit:  Mr. Ryan Hall

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TRANSCRIPT

SPEAKERS

GUEST:  Jemal Singleton ’99 | HOST:  Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz ’99

Naviere Walkewicz 00:12

Welcome to Long Blue Leadership, the podcast where we share insights on leadership through the lives and experiences of Air Force Academy graduates. I’m Naviere Walkowicz, Class of ’99. I’m honored to join you from the NovaCare Complex, the training facility for the Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles, here in Pennsylvania. But I’m especially excited to bring you a conversation with my Air Force Academy classmate and friend, Jemal Singleton, the Eagles running backs and assistant head coach. Both on and off the field. Coach Singleton brings a wealth of leadership experience gleaned from his time in the U.S. Air Force and the NFL. This unique blend has made him a builder of high-performance teams, as well as a standout mentor and motivator. Jemal and I will dive into what it means to lead with conviction, to earn trust in high-pressure environments and to acquire the mindset needed to bring out the best in people, whether you’re on the gridiron, battlefield or in the boardroom. We’ll talk about how Coach Singleton learned to connect with people through immersive cultural experiences. We’ll talk about the coaches in his life who helped him see players for the people they’re becoming first. And we’ll discuss how a rocky start in professional football ultimately taught him patience and perseverance. So get ready to be inspired. Let’s talk leadership, game planning and more with Coach Jemal Singleton. Jemal, welcome to Long Blue Leadership, my friend.

Jemal Singleton

Oh, thank you so much for having me. I can’t tell you how awesome this is, to have the opportunity to be on this show that in the past couple years, some of the people that have sat in this chair have been unbelievable. I mean, yeah, Lt. Henderson, or, excuse me, Captain America, on the show, which was awesome. There’s two men that that I have great respect for with Gen. Gould and Gen. Clark. They were also on this show. So to have little old me sitting up here is really an amazing thing. I kind of feel like, with us, we’re like, the meme, the Paul Rudd meme. So this is a definite joy and honor for me to be here.

Naviere Walkewicz

Well, thank you so much for that. I feel like we blinked and 25 years went by, but here we are together again. So I’d like to take us right to the moment. I mean, most recently, Super Bowl champions. It was kind of a two-season road, right? Let’s talk about the moment maybe on the field where you knew you guys were about to win. Can you talk us through what that moment was like?

Jemal Singleton

I tell you, it’s one of those highs in life that I’ll obviously always remember. The greatest thing was really how the game played out.