Penn State football losing longtime support staffer to NFL

Penn State football will start June in search of a new member of its support staff. On Friday, Nittany Lions Director of External Operations Destiny Rodriguez announced that she is leaving Happy Valley for a role with the New York Jets in the NFL.

Rodriguez took to social media to thank James Franklin and the Nittany Lions program.

“[James Franklin] gave me the opportunity to learn, grow and be a part of a family,” she wrote. “There aren’t enough words to express how thankful I am or how much love I have for the Franklins and this team. But I’m excited to take the next step in my journey and join the New York Jets!”

.@coachjfranklin gave me the opportunity to learn, grow & be a part of a family. 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! pic.twitter.com/PwILMxkB6V

— Destiny Rodriguez (@Destiny_Rod) May 30, 2025

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Rodriguez was a key behind-the-scenes piece for Penn State football for the better part of the past decade. She joined the program for the first time in 2016 as an operations assistant. After a brief stint with the Nittany Lions men’s soccer team, Rodriguez returned to Lasch in the recruiting department in 2018. She was elevated to the director of external operations role in 2022.

Penn State has already posted its listing for a new director of external operations. Duties include accompanying Franklin to speaking events, assisting with the program’s travel responsibilities, overseeing creative licensing and design projects, and acting as the football team’s liaison within the athletic department.

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