Todd Downing

Last updated

Todd Downing
Todd Downing.jpg
Downing with the Tennessee Titans in 2021
New York Jets
Position:Quarterbacks coach & passing game coordinator
Personal information
Born: (1980-07-22) July 22, 1980 (age 43)
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Career information
High school: Eden Prairie (MN)
College: Minnesota
Career history
As a coach:
As an executive:
Career highlights and awards
  • PFF Quarterbacks Coach of the Year (2015)
Coaching stats at PFR

Todd Downing (born July 22, 1980) is an American football coach who is the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the New York Jets. He has previously served as offensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans as well as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and St. Louis Rams.

Contents

Playing career

Downing played quarterback for the Minnesota Maulers, a semi-pro football team from 2000 to 2002, and helped the Maulers reach three consecutive championship games. [1]

Coaching career

Early career

Downing received his first coaching job when he was hired as a 9th grade B team offensive coach at Eden Prairie High School. [2] While coaching at his high school, the Eagles won the Class 5A state title in 2000 over Matt Birk's Cretin Durham Hall Raiders. [1]

Minnesota Vikings

After being offered an internship in 2001 by Chad Ostlund in Research and Development for the Minnesota Vikings, Downing was a Public Relations intern for 2002, [3] a football systems analyst from 2003–04, and offensive quality control coach in 2005. [4]

St. Louis Rams

In 2006, Downing was hired by the St. Louis Rams to be a defensive assistant and special teams assistant coach. [3] He would keep this job for two seasons before becoming the Rams' defensive quality control coach. [1]

Detroit Lions

In 2009, Downing was hired by the Detroit Lions with Scott Linehan as an offensive quality control coach. [4] Downing was the assistant quarterback coach in 2010 and was promoted to the quarterbacks coach role in 2011. [4] While he was coaching quarterbacks in Detroit, Matthew Stafford averaged 4,885 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions from 2011–13. [5]

Buffalo Bills

In 2014, Downing was the Buffalo Bills' quarterback coach.

Oakland Raiders

In 2015, Downing was hired by the Oakland Raiders as their quarterbacks coach under head coach Jack Del Rio. [4] Downing is credited for helping Derek Carr become the first Raiders quarterback to be selected to a Pro Bowl since 2002. [4] On January 20, 2015, Downing was named by Pro Football Focus as Quarterbacks Coach of the Year. [6] After coaching Raiders quarterbacks for two years, he was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2017, after the Raiders decided not to renew Bill Musgrave's contract. [4] When Downing coached Carr from 2015–16, he threw for 7,924 yards, 60 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions with two Pro Bowl appearances. [7]

Downing was fired on January 1, 2018, along with head coach Jack Del Rio and the rest of Del Rio's staff after dropping from 12–4 to 6–10 due to a major regression of the offense.

Minnesota Vikings (second stint)

On February 19, 2018, Downing was hired by the Minnesota Vikings as a senior offensive assistant. [4] Following the sudden and unexpected passing of Vikings offensive line coach Tony Sparano prior to training camp in 2018, tight ends coach Clancy Barone was shifted to coach the offensive line, alongside Sparano's assistant offensive line coach, Andrew Janocko, while Downing was moved from senior offensive assistant to tight ends coach to fill the vacant position.

Tennessee Titans

Downing in 2021 Todd Downing 2021 09-19.jpg
Downing in 2021

On January 26, 2019, Downing was hired by the Tennessee Titans as their tight ends coach under head coach Mike Vrabel. [8]

On January 29, 2021, Downing was promoted to offensive coordinator, replacing Arthur Smith, who departed to become the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons two weeks prior. [9] In Downing's first season as offensive coordinator, the Titans finished 17th in overall offense and 15th in points scored. [10]

On January 9, 2023, Downing was fired after the Titans finished 30th in overall offense and 28th in points scored (17.5 per game). [11] [12] [13]

New York Jets

On Febrruary 13th 2023 per Ian Rapoport the Jets hired Downing to be there passing gae coordinator a year later on February 20, 2024 when Rob Calabrese the Jets quarterbacks coach at the time left to become the offensive assistant for the Los Angeles Rams Downing was promoted to passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach under head coach Robert Saleh

Personal life

Downing grew up in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. He and his wife, Julie, have a son named Jackson. [1] Downing was arrested for a DUI when driving back from a game in November 2022. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Tice</span> American football player and coach (born 1959)

Michael Peter Tice is a former American football tight end and coach. He played college football at the University of Maryland, College Park and spent 11 seasons playing in the National Football League (NFL) before spending 22 seasons as a coach, including four seasons as the Minnesota Vikings head coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Mularkey</span> American football player and coach (born 1961)

Michael Rene Mularkey is a former American football coach and tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Florida, and was drafted in the ninth round of the 1983 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers and lasted until the final round of cuts. Mularkey then signed with the Minnesota Vikings with whom he played for six seasons before playing another three with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Vrabel</span> American football player and coach (born 1975)

Michael George Vrabel is an American football coach and former linebacker. He currently serves as a Coaching and Personnel Consultant for the Cleveland Browns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Ragone</span> American football player and coach (born 1979)

David Patrick Ragone is an American football coach and former player who currently serves as quarterbacks coach for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He was most recently the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons and previously served as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins and Tennessee Titans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry Robiskie</span> American football player and coach (born 1954)

Terrance Joseph Robiskie is a former American football coach and player. He previously served as an assistant coach for the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins, Los Angeles Raiders, and Jacksonville Jaguars.

William Scott Musgrave is an American football coach and former player who is the senior offensive assistant for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He is a former quarterback, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for multiple NFL teams. He played college football for the Oregon Ducks, earning all-conference honors in the Pac-10. He is also the uncle of Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave.

Rick Steven Dennison is an American football coach and former linebacker who is currently the senior offensive assistant for the New Orleans Saints. He was the offensive line coach and run game coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL) from 2019-2020. An assistant in the NFL since 1995, he served as offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos, Houston Texans (2010–2013), and Buffalo Bills (2017), and served as quarterbacks coach for the Baltimore Ravens in 2014. He was the special teams coach for the Super Bowl Champion Broncos in 1997 and 1998. A linebacker who spent his entire NFL playing career in Denver from 1982 to 1990, he appeared in Super Bowls XXI, XXII, and XXIV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat Shurmur</span> American football player and coach (born 1965)

Patrick Carl Shurmur is an American football coach who serves as the offensive coordinator at the University of Colorado Boulder. Prior to joining the staff at Colorado, he most recently served as the offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL) from 2020 to 2021. A 32-year coaching veteran, Shurmur has 21 seasons of NFL experience, including the last 11 years as a head coach or offensive coordinator. Shurmur has four years of experience as a head coach, working in that role with the New York Giants from 2018 to 2019 and with the Cleveland Browns from 2011 to 2012. He also served as interim head coach for Philadelphia Eagles at the end of the 2015 season. He has been an offensive coordinator for seven seasons, previously coaching in that role with the Minnesota Vikings (2016–2017), Philadelphia Eagles (2013–2015) and the St. Louis Rams (2009–2010).

The NFL Alumni Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is composed of former National Football League (NFL) players, coaches, team staff members and associate members who work voluntarily to raise funds for youth-oriented causes and engage in hands-on service to foster the development of "youth through sports and sports through youth". It was founded in 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Daboll</span> Canadian-born American football coach (born 1975)

Brian Michael Daboll is a Canadian-born American football coach who is the head coach for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Alabama Crimson Tide, and Buffalo Bills. Daboll has also served in various capacities as an assistant coach for the New England Patriots from 2000 to 2006 and again from 2013 to 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Sparano</span> American football coach (1961–2018)

Anthony Joseph Sparano III was an American football coach. He served as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL) and is the only NFL head coach to have led a team to the playoffs the year following a one-win season, and only the second to conduct a ten-game turnaround, both of which he accomplished in his first season with the Dolphins. He was fired by the Dolphins in December 2011 after a 4-9 start to the season, Sparano's worst start in his four-year tenure with the Dolphins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean McVay</span> American football coach (born 1986)

Sean McVay is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Los Angeles Rams. He became the youngest NFL head coach in the modern era when he was hired by the Rams in 2017 at the age of 30. McVay is also the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl and be named NFL Coach of the Year. Prior to becoming Rams head coach, he served as a tight ends coach and offensive coordinator for the Washington Redskins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John DeFilippo</span> American football player and coach (born 1978)

John Eugene DeFilippo is an American football coach for the Memphis Showboats of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football as a quarterback at James Madison University, and has served as offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, and Jacksonville Jaguars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt LaFleur</span> American football player and coach (born 1979)

Matthew Patrick LaFleur is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He has served as the quarterback coach of the Washington Redskins, Notre Dame, and the Atlanta Falcons and has been the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams and the Tennessee Titans.

Jason Michael is an American football coach who is the tight ends coach for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as an assistant coach for the Indianapolis Colts, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets and Oakland Raiders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Callahan</span> American football coach (born 1984)

Brian Callahan is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2019 to 2023.

Tim Kelly is an American football coach who is the tight ends coach for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans in 2023 and also coached with the Houston Texans in various assistant roles, including offensive coordinator, between 2014 and 2021. Kelly has also served as an assistant coach for several college football teams. He attended Eastern Illinois University, where he also played for their football team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith Carter (American football)</span> American football player and coach (born 1982)

Keith Richard Carter is an American football coach and former tight end who is the offensive line coach and run game coordinator for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL).

Wes Phillips is an American football coach and former player who is the offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He is the son of former Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, and Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips and the grandson of former Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints head coach Bum Phillips.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Tennessee Titans season</span> 64th season in franchise history

The 2023 season was the Tennessee Titans' 54th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 64th overall, their 27th in the state of Tennessee and their sixth and final under head coach Mike Vrabel. The Titans attempted to improve upon their underachieving 7–10 record from last year. They also attempted to make it back to the playoffs after missing them for the first time since 2018. However, after a Week 15 loss to the Houston Texans in overtime, they were eliminated from playoff contention for the second year in a row. The following week they were locked to last in the AFC South after losing to the Seattle Seahawks 20–17 in Week 16, and they failed to improve on their 7–10 record from 2022. On January 9, the Titans fired Vrabel.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Coaches at a Glance: Downing". Los Angeles Rams. April 15, 2008. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  2. ↑ Scoggins, Chip (November 13, 2015). "Long journey leads Eden Prairie native to Raiders job". Star Tribune. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Catching Up...with Todd Downing". Los Angeles Rams. June 7, 2006. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Peters, Craig (February 19, 2018). "5 Things to Know About New Vikings Senior Offensive Assistant Todd Downing". Minnesota Vikings. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Matthew Stafford Stats | 2011–2013". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  6. ↑ "PFF News & Analysis".
  7. ↑ "Derek Carr Stats | 2015–2016". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  8. ↑ Wyatt, Jim (January 26, 2019). "Titans Hire Veteran Coach Todd Downing to Coach Tight Ends". TitansOnline.com. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  9. ↑ Wyatt, Jim (February 5, 2021). "Titans Promote Todd Downing to OC, Elevate Shane Bowen to DC as Mike Vrabel Sets Staff". www.tennesseetitans.com. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  10. ↑ Glennon, John (January 23, 2022). "What to Make of Downing's First Season in Charge of Offense?". si.com. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  11. ↑ Wyatt, Jim (January 9, 2023). "Titans Part Ways With OC Todd Downing, OL Coach Keith Carter, Secondary Coach Anthony Midget and Offensive Skill Assistant Erik Frazier". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  12. ↑ Glennon, John (January 9, 2023). "Downing, Three Other Coaches Fired". si.com. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  13. ↑ Baca, Michael (January 9, 2023). "Titans fire offensive coordinator Todd Downing". nfl.com. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  14. ↑ Glennon, John (November 18, 2022). "Todd Downing Arrested Hours After Win". si.com. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.