Who is calling plays for Jets? Meet Nathaniel Hackett's replacement tasked with fixing Aaron Rodgers, offense
The Jets made a huge change leading into Week 6, as the team fired head coach Robert Saleh and promoted defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich as interim head coach. However, Ulbrich's first decision may be even more important, as he stripped offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett of playcalling duties.
Instead, passing game coordinator Todd Downing will call plays, starting with New York's "Monday Night Football" matchup against the Bills.
Downing might not be a household name, but he has almost two decades of experience in the NFL. His career has taken him from Minnesota to New York, with stops in Detroit, Buffalo, Oakland and more.
Here's everything you need to know about Downing's career as he takes over as New York's new play-caller.
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Who is Todd Downing?
Born on July 22, 1980, Downing is a 44-year-old, veteran offensive coach who has worked for seven NFL teams over the past 20 years. He's been a primary play-caller for two teams in his career but has spent the majority of his time in the NFL as a position coach.
Before coaching in the NFL, Downing got his start as a 9th grade B team offensive coach at Eden Prairie High School in Minnesota.
Downing was born in Eden Prairie and played quarterback for the Minnesota Maulers, a semi-pro football team in Minnesota.
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Todd Downing coaching timeline
Downing first got into coaching with the Minnesota Vikings in 2005, when he held the position of offensive quality control coach.
From 2005-11, Downing was either a quality control coach or an assistant coach for the Vikings, Rams and Lions. Detroit promoted him to quarterbacks coach in 2012, and he held the same position for the Bills and Raiders during select seasons through 2016.
In 2017, the Raiders named Downing their offensive coordinator, when Oakland scored just 18.8 points per game. The Raiders fired head coach Jack Del Rio after posting a 6-10 record, with Downing also not returning.
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Downing became the Vikings offensive assistant coach in 2018, then moved to the Titans as their tight ends coach in 2019. When then-Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith became the Falcons head coach in 2021, Downing replaced him as offensive coordinator.
Under Downing, the Titans were a top-five rushing team in 2021 but regressed to middle-of-the-pack the following year. In his two seasons running Tennessee's offense, Downing led the Titans to 24.6 points per game in 2021 and just 17.5 points per game in 2022.
The Titans fired Downing after the 2022 season, and the veteran coach landed with the Jets as their passing game coordinator, where he has been ever since.
Todd Downing coaching timeline Year Team Role 2005 Vikings Offensive quality control 2006 Rams Defensive/Special teams assistant 2007 Rams Defensive/Special teams assistant 2008 Rams Defensive quality control 2009 Lions Offensive quality control 2010 Lions Assistant quarterbacks coach 2011 Lions Quarterbacks coach 2012 Lions Quarterbacks coach 2013 Lions Quarterbacks coach 2014 Bills Quarterbacks coach 2015 Raiders Quarterbacks coach 2016 Raiders Quarterbacks coach 2017 Raiders Offensive coordinator 2018 Vikings Offensive assistant 2019 Titans Tight ends coach 2020 Titans Tight ends coach 2021 Titans Offensive coordinator 2022 Titans Offensive coordinator 2023 Jets Passing game coordinator 2024 Jets Passing game coordinator
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Todd Downing-Aaron Rodgers relationship
Downing hadn't worked with Rodgers until getting to the Jets, but the veteran coach said the quarterback has been supportive.
"I've been in every meeting that Aaron's been in from a position standpoint, an offensive standpoint, so I think I've kind of learned a different language that way in some regards," Downing said, via ESPN's Rich Cimini.
"Obviously, things are going to come out of my mouth a little differently, so there's going to be a process of figuring out the best way to communicate with him. I want to be an open book to how I can best serve him and every one of our players."
Rodgers has a well-documented and extensive previous relationship with Hackett, which may be part of the reason that Downing was promoted.
