Jets coach Robert Saleh said he wanted to hire a senior offensive assistant this offseason.
Now Gang Green has filled that role a day after the Super Bowl.
According to a source, the Jets have hired Todd Downing as their passing game coordinator. NFL Network was the first to report the Jets hire of Downing.
The Jets passing game coordinator role has been a vacant position since 2021. Saleh hired Knapp to be the Jets passing game coordinator that year. However, on July 17, 2021, Knapp died following injuries in a biking accident in California.
Downing will work with Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who was hired last month. They each will look to improve a Jets offense that finished at the bottom of several statistical categories, including 25th in offense (318.2 yards per game) and 29th in points scored (17.4 per game).
Downing brings a ton of experience to the Jets coaching staff as he has been an assistant coach in the NFL since 2005. From 2010-13, Downing was the Lions quarterbacks coach as he worked with a young Matthew Stafford.
Following a year as the Bills quarterback coach in 2014, Downing became the Raiders quarterbacks coach (2015-16) and later their offensive coordinator (2017). He received a lot of credit for helping Derek Carr become a Pro Bowl quarterback and an MVP candidate as the Raiders reached the playoffs in 2016.
Most recently, Downing was Titans tight ends coach (2019-20) and offensive coordinator (2021-22) as he worked to revive Ryan Tannehill’s career after he was traded from the Dolphins. During his two seasons guiding the Titans offense, they finished 17th and 30th in the league. Tennessee also ended each year 24th and 30th in passing, as the team averaged 17.5 points per game under Downing’s direction.
Downing was fired by the Titans last month following the team’s 7-10 campaign. This was nearly two months after he was arrested for driving under the influence and speeding on Nov. 18. The Tennessee Highway Patrol arrested Downing hours after the Titans beat the Packers 27-17 in Green Bay on Thursday Night Football.
The Titans didn’t suspend or punish Downing for the incident, but he did serve 48 hours at the Williamson County jails from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2.
Downing’s hire is significant because he has links to two possible quarterback options, Carr and Tannehill, this offseason. The Raiders are expected to release Carr shortly after he turned down a trade offer to the New Orleans Saints.
Tannehill is not a free agent, but the Titans could release him as the team is more than $21 million over the salary cap. If Tannehill is released, Tennessee would save $18.8 million.
