Downing has never held the title in his coaching career.
Mike Vrabel has reportedly added a wide receivers coach to his coaching staff.
According to Greg Bedard of the Boston Sports Journal, the New England Patriots are hiring Todd Downing to fill the role.
Downing’s arrival marks another coach with ties to Vrabel from Tennessee. After joining Vrabel’s staff in 2019 as the Titans’ tight ends coach, Downing was elevated to offensive coordinator in 2021. He held the role for two seasons before being fired after the Titans finished the 2022 season 28th in points scored (17.5).
Throughout his professional coaching career, which began back in 2005, Downing has primarily worked as a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator — also holding the role in 2017 for the Oakland Raiders before being let go with head coach Jack Del Rio.
Downing has then spent the last two seasons in the AFC East as he served as the New York Jets passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. After the mid-season firing of Robert Saleh and Nathaniel Hackett, Downing took over play calling duties.
While Downing has plenty of experience coaching on the offensive side of the ball, he has never held the title of wide receivers coach. He’ll now led the room in New England that will be in the market for upgrades this offseason after rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker failed to make an impact last season.