Titans hire Downing as tight ends coach
The Titans have hired former Minnesota Vikings tight ends coach Todd Downing to fill the same role in Tennessee, the team announced Saturday.
He replaces Arthur Smith, who was promoted to offensive coordinator.
Downing, 38, will have star tight end Delanie Walker back in the fold when the season begins. Walker missed nearly all of 2018 after a season-ending ankle injury in Week 1.
Downing, who is entering his 19th NFL season, served as the Oakland Raiders' offensive coordinator for one season before joining the Vikings.
He had spent the two previous years as quarterbacks coach. He was not retained by the Raiders when the team hired Jon Gruden as head coach last January.
Prior to his stint in Oakland, Downing coached quarterbacks for the Buffalo Bills (2014) and Detroit Lions (2011-13). He also served as the Lions' offensive quality control coach in 2009 and assistant quarterbacks coach in 2010.
Before working with quarterbacks, Downing served as a defensive assistant and assistant special teams coach with the St. Louis Rams from 2006-07. In 2008, he was named assistant secondary/defensive quality control coach in St. Louis.
Downing got his start at the NFL level on former Vikings head coach Mike Tice's staff, where he worked as an intern and coaching assistant from 2001-02 and as a football systems analyst from 2003- 04. He was named offensive quality control coach for the Vikings in 2005.
Before he entered the NFL ranks, Downing began his coaching career with his alma mater, Eden Prairie High School, from 1999-2000. In 2000, he helped lead the school to the Minnesota Class 5-A state title.
--Field Level Media
