Rod Windsor

Bio

On April 11, 2026 Rod Windsor became the tenth Head Coach in the history of the Pirates. He was elevated to that position after serving as  Offensive Coordinator. The former Bay Area Panthers OC and Associate Head Coach helped the Panthers to the Indoor Football League playoffs last season. Bay Area ranked sixth in the league scoring 45.1 points per game and  averaged 233.2 yards per contest. They were third in the IFL in rushing with 99.5 yards per game and ninth in passing with 133.8 yards each night.

From 2022 through 2024 Windsor worked with the Northern Arizona Wranglers as offensive coordinator, winning the league’s National Championship in 2022. In 2024 he guided quarterback Josh Jones to become the IFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year.

A three-time first-team All-Arena receiver, Windsor is no stranger when it comes to championships as he has four championship rings: three as a player and one as a coach. 

His football journey started in Bessemer, AL as a high school star which led him to Garden City Community College and later to Western New Mexico University as a quarterback. In 2006 as a junior, Windsor led the Mustangs in both passing yards with 1,361 and rushing yards with 886. In 2007 he switched his position to wideout for his senior year, logging 1,118 receiving yards and six touchdowns for Western.

Windsor began his professional career in 2009 in the af2 with the Rio Grande Valley Dorados catching 184 passes for 2,364 yards and 59 TDs in 15 games. He was named the Offensive Player of the Year and the Rookie of the Year

In 2010,Windsor played for the Sacramento Mountain Lions under Head Coach Dennis Green and with quarterback Dante Culpepper. Windsor then joined the Arizona Rattlers where he caught a league-record 197 passes for 2,372 yards and 47 touchdowns. He was the Rookie of the Year and an all-league first-team selection.

Then the NFL came calling. Windsor signed with the Cleveland Browns practice squad for one week in December. He then joined the Buffalo Bills practice squad on December 30, 2010, where he finished the season.

Windsor signed a futures contract with the Browns in January of 2011 and in the preseason had five receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown. He was waived during the final round of cuts. He was re-signed to the practice squad where he spent the first 15 weeks before being promoted to the active roster on December 22. In 2012 Windsor was back in camp with Cleveland and had five receptions for 51 yards and a score in the preseason. He then re-joined the Browns practice squad.

In 2013 Windsor returned to the Arizona Rattlers and earned Second Team - All-Arena honors as the Rattlers defeated Philadelphia in ArenaBowl XXVI. Windsor had 10 receptions for 145 yards and was the game’s MVP. Windsor captured his second ring in 2014 and remained with the Rattlers through 2016. He later won his third championship with the Washington Valor in 2018 and finished his career with the Baltimore Brigade in 2019. Windsor ended his professional career with 898 catches for over 11,000 receiving yards and 263 touchdowns.