Jets hire ex-Steeler Ward as offensive assistant

The New York Jets hired former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward as a full-time offensive assistant.

Ward worked with the Jets during the summer as a coaching intern and impressed coach Adam Gase and his staff. Wide receiver Robby Anderson praised Ward during camp for helping him try to find ways to improve his game this season.

Jets general manager Joe Douglas had been interested in having Ward join the Eagles’ staff and reached out to the former wide receiver when he was hired by the Jets in June. Ward will work closely again with wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson.

”That’s a great addition for us,” Gase said. ”He’s done a lot of really good things with that group, helping out with those guys and it was the right time for him. He’s excited about the opportunity.”

The 43-year-old Ward is the Steelers’ career leader with 1,000 catches, 12,083 yards receiving and 85 touchdown catches. He played 15 seasons for Pittsburgh, and helped the franchise win two Super Bowl titles. Ward also worked as a coaching intern for the Steelers during training camp in 2017.

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Ward, who enjoyed an extremely successful 14-year playing career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, served as a coaching intern for the Steelers during the 2017 season. That summer, Ward worked with then rookie and current Pittsburgh No. 1 receiver, JuJu Smith-Schuster. Ward’s impact helped Smith-Schuster catch 58 passes for 917 yards and seven touchdowns during his rookie season while becoming the youngest player in league history to reach 1,000 all-purpose yards.

Ward isn’t the only former Steeler that is currently with the Jets. Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh’s team MVP in 2014 and 2016, signed a four-year deal with New York during the regular season. Offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum, who signed with Pittsburgh as an undrafted rookie in 2012, was the Steelers’ starting left tackle from 2013-15 until an injury wiped out the second half of the 2015 season. Steve McLendon, a nose tackle for the Steelers from 2010-15, is also a member of the Jets’ 2019 squad.

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