Former Redskins linebacker Kurt Gouveia is among four ex-Redskins and 28 current and former NFL players getting first-hand experience in coaching and serving as a game official in NFL Europe this offseason.
Gouveia will coach the Berlin Thunder during training camp and the regular season. He was a graduate assistant for the University of Hawaii football team last fall.
Gouveia played linebacker in Washington from 1987-94, helping the Redskins win two Super Bowl championships in that span. He didn't develop into a full-time starter until the 1992 season, however. Gouveia returned for a second stint with the team in 1999.
Gouveia might best be remembered for his interception in Super Bowl XXVI shortly after halftime that led to an offensive touchdown and catapulted the Redskins to an insurmountable lead. The Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills 37-24 in that game.
Gouveia also served as a coaching assistant at Redskins Training Camp in August 2004.
Former Redskins Dana Stubblefield (Frankfurt Galaxy, training camp only), Alvin Harper (Rhein Fire, training camp and regular season) and Cris Dishman (Berlin Thunder, training camp and regular season) are also participating in the coaching internship program.
Among the current NFL players to serve in the internship program include New England safety Rodney Harrison, Tampa Bay linebacker Shelton Quarles and New York Giants defensive lineman Norman Hand. Former NFL players participating in the program include Chuck Muncie and E.J. Junior.
The NFL Europe internship program, introduced in 2003, is a joint initiative of the NFL and the Players Association. The goal is to provide participants with comprehensive training, work experience and evaluation of their coaching and officiating skills.
In previous year, four participants in the NFL Europe internship program have earned full-time positions with NFL teams: Cleveland Browns tight ends coach Ben Coates and San Diego Chargers assistant defensive backs coach Albert Lewis were interns with the Frankfurt Galaxy in 2004; and Indianapolis Colts offensive quality control coach Pete Metzelaars and Oakland Raiders special teams assistant coach Martin Bayless were interns with the Barcelona Dragons in 2003.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for players to develop other skills and pursue other career goals," said Art Shell, NFL senior vice president of football operations and development. "The program provides our players--active or retired--the chance to find out whether coaching, officiating or front office work in the NFL is for them."
