Latest on Jets coaching staff: Former Titans OC Todd Downing hired as passing game coordinator
This offseason is a pivotal one for the Jets, as they head towards the 2023 season looking to prove that the start of this past season was no fluke, despite ending on a six-game losing streak.
Here’s the latest on Robert Saleh's coaching staff…
Feb. 13, 11:25 a.m.
The Jets have added another experienced coach to their offensive staff, hiring former Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Todd Downing as their new passing game coordinator, SNY NFL Insider Connor Hughes reports.
Downing, 42, was most recently the Titans' OC for the past two seasons, but has also been a position coach, working with both quarterbacks and tight ends during the course of his career.
Adding Downing gives the Jets some inside info on soon-to-be free agent QB Ryan Tannehill, who could be an option for a team searching for a veteran quarterback.
Feb. 12, 1:32 p.m.
The Jets have requested permission to interview Detroit Lions assistant wide receivers coach Seth Ryan for their vacant WR coach position, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Ryan has family ties to the Jets, as his father, Rex, served as Jets head coach from 2009-14. Rex Ryan, meanwhile, is reportedly under consideration for the Broncos defensive coordinator position.
The Jets are looking to hire a new receivers coach after it was announced earlier this offseason that Miles Austin would not return.
Jan. 27, 9:10 p.m.
The Los Angeles Rams confirmed earlier reports that they have hired former Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur to be their next OC.
This will be LaFleur's second OC job after helming the Jets' offense for two seasons under head coach Robert Saleh. Prior to the Jets job, LaFleur was the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach for the San Francisco 49ers.
Jan. 27, 11:50 a.m.
Former Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur has landed a new gig just two weeks after leaving Robert Saleh's staff in New York, per multiple reports.
LaFleur is joining Sean McVay to serve as the Los Angeles Rams' next OC, replacing Liam Coen who left the NFL club for a job with the University of Kentucky.
According to SNY NFL Insider Connor Hughes, the Jets wanted LaFleur back as their OC for the upcoming season but allowed him to pursue other opportunities.
The team hired former Denver Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett as offensive coordinator on Thursday.
Jan. 22, 12:00 p.m.
The Jets have requested to interview Buffalo Bills quarterbacks coach Joe Brady, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Brady, 33, made a name for himself as the passing game coordinator for Joe Burrow and the LSU Tigers in 2019. The Carolina Panthers then hired him as their offensive coordinator, but he was fired before the end of his second season.
Brady was hired by Buffalo prior to this season, taking over for now-offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey.
Jan. 22, 10:20 a.m.
The Jets continue to cast a wide net when it comes to finding their next offensive coordinator.
After interviewing Cleveland Browns wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator Chad O’Shea on Friday, the Jets are interviewing Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Klint Kubiak on Sunday.
Kubiak, 35, was previously the Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator in 2021 after serving as the team’s quarterbacks coach the previous two seasons.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini notes that pairing Klint Kubiak with his father, Gary, is “not on the table,” though head coach Robert Saleh has previously said the Jets would look to add a veteran offensive coach to the staff.
Jan. 20, 3:02 p.m.
The Jets’ search for a new offensive coordinator continued with an interview of Chad O’Shea Friday, according to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero.
O'Shea, 50, has been the wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator with the Cleveland Browns since 2020 on Kevin Stefanski's staff. He was the offensive coordinator with the Miami Dolphins for the 2019 season.
The 20-year NFL coaching veteran won three Super Bowls as the wide receivers coach with the New England Patriots (2009-2018). Prior to that, O'Shea spent three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings as an offensive assistant (2006-2008) after he got his start with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2003 as a volunteer assistant.
Earlier Friday it was reported that Cleveland Browns offensive line coach Bill Callahan would not be interviewing for the Jets' OC role after signing a contract extension to remain in Cleveland, according to Mike Garafolo.
And earlier this week, Darrell Bevell informed the Jets and Washington Commanders that he is declining the opportunity to interview for their coordinator positions and opting to remain with the Miami Dolphins, according to Pelissero.
Jan. 18, 11:20 a.m.
Add another name to the list of Jets OC candidates.
According to ESPN’s Dianna Russini, the Jets are meeting with former Denver Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett.
Hackett was a head coach for the first time in 2022, but he was fired by the Broncos after just 15 games as the team stumbled to a 4-11 record. But prior to his time in Denver, Hackett had success as an offensive coordinator with the Green Bay Packers (2019-21), Jacksonville Jaguars (2016-18), and Buffalo Bills (2013-14).
Hackett joins a reported list of OC candidates that includes Philadelphia Eagles passing game coordinator Kevin Patullo, New England Patriots TE coach Nick Caley, Miami Dolphins passing game coordinator and QB coach Darrell Bevell, and former Indianapolis Colts OC and current Eagles offensive consultant Marcus Brady.
Jan. 16, 10:40 a.m.
The Jets plan to speak to longtime NFL assistant coach Darrell Bevell about their vacant offensive coordinator job, sources tell NFL Media's Ian Rapoport.
Bevell is currently serving as the quarterbacks coach and pass game coordinator for Mike McDaniel's Miami Dolphins, who were eliminated from the playoffs on Sunday with a loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Bevell, 53, joined the Miami staff after he was offensive coordinator and then the interim head coach of the Jaguars after Urban Meyer's firing during his one year in Jacksonville. Bevell got to hold the interim head coaching title in Detroit after he was elevated from offensive coordinator in 2020 following the dismissal of Matt Patricia.
He served as the offensive coordinator in Seattle (2011-2017) where he overlapped with Jets head coach Robert Saleh (2011-2013).
Before that, he served as OC in Minnesota (2006-2010) and was the quarterbacks coach (2003-2005) and assistant quarterbacks coach (2000-2002) in Green Bay.
Jan. 15, 10:30 a.m.
Robert Saleh’s search for a new offensive coordinator to replace Mike LaFleur is heating up as the head coach interviewed Marcus Brady for the job Sunday, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport.
Brady served as offensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts (2021-2022) until he was fired after a Week 8 defeat and a 3-4-1 start to the season by then-head coach Frank Reich. Brady joined the Colts as an assistant quarterbacks coach in 2018 and served as quarterbacks coach in 2019-2020.
Soon after his dismissal by Indianapolis, the 43-year-old joined Nick Sirianni’s Philadelphia Eagles as an offensive consultant.
Earlier this week Saleh interviewed another Eagles staffer, passing game coordinator Kevin Patullo. The Jets' also requested to interview New England Patriots tight ends coach Nick Caley.
Brady played several seasons in the Canadian Football League and got his start coaching there. He was a three-time Grey Cup champion, winning the last title in 2017 while serving as the offensive coordinator of the Montreal Alouettes.
It was also reported Sunday that the Carolina Panthers requested the Jets’ permission to interview defensive back/safeties coach Marquand Manuel for a coordinator position, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
The Panthers have not yet named a head coach after firing Matt Rhule midseason and Steve Wilks served as the interim. Manuel, an eight-year NFL veteran, joined Saleh’s coaching staff in 2021.
Jan. 12, 11:25 a.m.
After the Jets and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur mutually agreed to part ways on Wednesday evening, head coach Robert Saleh announced a pair of additional coaching staff changes on Thursday morning.
Per Saleh, the Jets have moved on from offensive line coach and run game coordinator John Benton as well as wide receivers coach Miles Austin.
That leaves the Jets with openings at OC, O-Line coach, and WR coach, and Saleh has previously said that the team would look to hire an additional veteran offensive coach, though it’s unclear if that plan has changed following LaFleur’s departure.