The former Pittsburgh receiver and Super Bowl MVP has been named a full-time New York Jets coach after spending the summer with the team.
The New York Jets made one more big acquisition before going into Week 1.
The team announced on Monday that former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward would join the team on a full-time basis as an offensive assistant. Ward spent the summer as an intern before his promotion.
We've hired Hines Ward as an offensive assistant.
? https://t.co/I1aYN5Ag7s pic.twitter.com/8WQyMbQdgR
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 2, 2019
“Hines has stayed on with us throughout the entire training camp,” head coach Adam Gase said on Monday, per Ethan Greenberg of NewYorkJets.com. “He’s actually been added to be part of the coaching staff. He’s going to be an offensive assistant, he’s going to be working with the wideouts with Shawn so I think that’s a great addition for us. He’s done a lot of really good things with that group, helping out with those guys. I think it was the right time for him. He’s excited about the opportunity.”
Ward, 43, spent 14 seasons as an NFL receiver, all with the Pittsburgh Steelers. His career ended with 12,083 yards on 1,000 receptions, 85 of which went for touchdowns. Ward won two Super Bowls and earned the MVP award in the first such championship. His 123 yards and one score helped the Steelers top the Seattle Seahawks 21-10 in Super Bowl XL.
Previous post-football endeavors for Ward include serving as an analyst for NBC’s Football Night in America and participation on the dance competition series Dancing With The Stars. He also served as an executive in the Alliance of American Football, which ran from February through April.
Ward naturally worked with receivers alongside positional coach Shawn Jefferson this summer. He received positive reviews from players.
“He’s a great resource because he’s done it at a high level consistently,” receiver Robby Anderson told Greenberg. “He’s a future Hall of Famer so what more can I ask for? I’m picking his brain, and he’s more so telling me than I’m asking him, and I’m just staying on top of him. He’s just trying to find ways to get me better in each way.”
The Jets open their regular season on Sunday afternoon against the Buffalo Bills (1:00 p.m. ET, CBS).
