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COACHING

Todd Downing joins the Patriots as wide receivers coach in 2025. He comes to New England after two seasons with the New York Jets as passing game coordinator, adding the title of quarterbacks coach in 2024. He spent four seasons in Tennessee as tight ends coach (2019-20) and offensive coordinator (2021-22) under Mike Vrabel. He has a total of three years of experience as offensive coordinator, having served in the role for the first time with the Oakland Raiders in 2017.

As passing game coordinator for the Jets in 2024, QB Aaron Rodgers threw 28 touchdown passes, which ranks third on the single-season list behind Ryan Fitzpatrick and Vinny Testaverde. In addition, Rodgers threw for 3,897 yards, ranking third all-time in single-season franchise history behind Joe Namath in 1967 and Fitzpatrick in 2015. WR Davante Adams recorded his fifth straight 1000-yard season with Downing on staff. Downing further aided the development of WR Garrett Wilson, who was named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2022 after posting 83 receptions for 1,103 yards and 4 touchdowns. Downing also took over play-calling duties on offense for the final 12 weeks of the season.

The following year (2023) - Downing's first in New York - Wilson set a new career high in receptions (95), despite playing with multiple starting quarterbacks throughout the season. Wilson set career highs in all categories in Downing's second season with the Jets, recording 101 receptions for 1,104 yards and 7 touchdowns. In the final 12 weeks of the season,

Downing's final season in Tennessee in 2022 saw RB Derrick Henry record the third-most scrimmage yards of his career (1,936) and the third-most rushing touchdowns of his career (13). In his first season as the Titans' offensive coordinator in 2021, the Titans ranked fifth in the league in rushing yards per game (141.4) despite missing the reigning NFL rushing champion, Henry, for nine games due to injury. Prior to suffering the injury, Henry led the NFL with 937 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns through the first eight weeks of the season. In his place, running backs D'Onta Foreman (566 yards) and Dontrell Hilliard (350 yards) set career highs in rushing. In the passing game, QB Ryan Tannehill climbed to third all-time on the Titans' single-season passing lists in attempts (531), completions (357) and completion percentage (67.2). His 3,734 passing yards ranked fourth all-time. The 2021 Titans offense ranked eighth in the NFL in third down conversions (43.6 percent), fifth in the red zone (63.9 percent) and first in goal-to-go efficiency (87.5 percent), all in a season where the Titans used a league-high 39 players on offense due to injuries.

His first offensive coordinator job came in 2017 with the Oakland Raiders after two years as the team's quarterbacks coach (2015-16). Throughout this time, he helped QB Derek Carr earn three straight Pro Bowl nods from 2015-17, and the Raiders' offense finished sixth in the NFL in total offense (373.3 yards per game) in 2016. Under Downing's tutelage in 2016, Carr had his best season to date, having completed 357-of-560 passes (63.8 percent) for 3,937 yards, 28 touchdowns, 6 interceptions and a passer rating of 96.7. Carr set a franchise record for most passing yards in a game (513) in an overtime win against Tampa Bay in Week 8, the second time a Downing-coached quarterback threw for over 500 yards in a game (Matthew Stafford on Jan. 1, 2012, at Green Bay). He also had seven fourth quarter or overtime comeback and game-winning drives during the 2016 season, a mark that ranked second in the NFL and set a franchise single-season record. Carr became the first quarterback in NFL history with five game-winning touchdown passes in the fourth quarter or overtime in a single season, earning Castrol Edge Clutch Performer of the Year honors.

Prior to his time with the Raiders, Downing served as quarterbacks coach for the Buffalo Bills in 2014. He went to Buffalo after five years with the Detroit Lions, first as offensive quality control (2009), then as assistant quarterbacks (2010) before serving his final three years as quarterbacks coach (2011-13). In 2011, Downing was instrumental in helping QB Matthew Stafford throw 41 touchdowns and pass for over 5,000 yards en route to the Lions' first playoff berth since 1999.

Before working primarily on the offensive side of the ball, Downing served as a defensive assistant and assistant special teams coach for the St. Louis Rams from 2006-07. He was named assistant secondary/quality control coach for the Rams in 2008.

His first NFL roles came with the Minnesota Vikings, first as a public relations intern/assistant from 2001-02. He was a football systems analyst from 2003-04 and an offensive quality control coach in 2005, helping the Vikings finish in the top five in offense all three of those years and a playoff appearance in 2004.

Downing's coaching career began at his high school alma mater, Eden Prairie High School, from 1999-2000. As an assistant coach, he helped the Eagles win the Minnesota Class 5-A State Title in 2000.

PLAYING

From 2000-03, Downing played quarterback for the Minnesota Maulers, a semi-professional football team part of the Mid-America Football League. He helped the Maulers reach three consecutive championship games.

PERSONAL

A native of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Downing attended the University of Minnesota and studied business communications.