Rayna Stewart begins his first season as the Packers’ special teams quality control coach in 2019, having been named to the position on Feb. 7, 2019. He brings playing and coaching experience across numerous levels of football – NFL, college and high school – to Green Bay.
In his current role with the Packers, Stewart will work closely with special teams coordinator Shawn Mennenga and assistant special teams coach Maurice Drayton with a focus on opponent scouting and game-plan preparations.
Stewart (first name is pronounced ruh-NAY) spent the past four seasons at Vanderbilt, first as director of player development (2015-17) and then as special teams quality control coach (2018). As director of player development, he served as a mentor for players and oversaw a number of programs that helped the student-athletes transition from high school to college, obtain summer internships, engage with the community and prepare for post-graduate life. In 2018, Stewart helped punter Parker Thome rank fourth in the SEC with an average of 44.9 yards per punt, tied for the fourth-highest punting average in school history.
Prior to joining the Commodores, Stewart worked for two years as a teacher and head football coach at Whites Creek (Tenn.) High School. Stewart also served as a teacher and coach at Battle Ground Academy in nearby Franklin, Tenn., for two years before leading the Whites Creek staff.
From 2009-11, Stewart worked with the Tennessee Titans’ linebackers and defensive line as a defensive quality control coach. He helped DEs Kyle Vanden Bosch and Jason Babin earn Pro Bowl honors in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Stewart also helped the Titans’ defense rank No. 8 in points allowed in 2011.
Before coaching for the Titans, Stewart worked as a graduate assistant at Northwestern University (2007-08), athletic director/head coach at Chicago (Ill.) Hope Academy (2005-06), assistant coach at Centennial (Tenn.) High School (2001-04) and training-camp intern with the Indianapolis Colts (2004).
Stewart played collegiately at Northern Arizona University, where he was a two-time All-American cornerback and set the school record for passes defensed in a season, posting 19 in both 1994 and 1995. He was selected in the fifth round (No. 143 overall) of the 1996 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers and played in 71 career games as a defensive back for the Oilers (1996-97), Miami Dolphins (1998) and Jacksonville Jaguars (1999-2000). He finished his NFL career with 77 tackles (59 solo), four fumble recoveries and two INTs.
A native of Chatsworth, Calif., Stewart earned a bachelor’s degree in advertising from Northern Arizona and a master’s degree in education administration from Tennessee State.
Stewart was born June 18, 1973. He and his wife, Sonia, have four children: ShaRae, Tre, Mycah and Jadyn.
