New York Jets may lose an important offensive assistant in Hines Ward

The New York Jets may be on the verge of losing one of their most important offensive assistants with the latest news regarding Hines Ward.

For the first time in quite a while, the New York Jets will be keeping their entire coaching staff intact heading into the offseason. At least, that was the plan.

Unfortunately, that plan may have hit a speed bump as the Philadelphia Eagles have reportedly shown interest in current Jets offensive assistant Hines Ward.

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Ward was originally hired by the Pittsburgh Steelers as a coaching intern in the summer of 2017 but didn’t receive a full-time coaching gig until this past season when new head coach Adam Gase hired him as an offensive assistant.

But the Eagles could be looking to give him a bit of a promotion.

Per a report by Paul Domowitch of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Eagles have shown interest in both Ward and fellow former NFL wideout Bobby Engram for their vacant wide receivers coach job.

Ward was highly praised for the work he did with the Jets in 2019, in particular his close relationship with wide receiver Robby Anderson. Anderson developed immensely this past season and his work with Ward was touted as one of the main reasons for his growth.

Anderson praised Ward back in training camp calling him “a great resource” and Ward spoke very highly of Anderson as the year went on.

“He’s extremely talented. The guy is probably our most explosive player on the team. But I always drill into Robby’s head that you want to be a complete wide receiver. You don’t want to be a one-trick pony where we’re just sending him deep all the time. So, working with his route running and things like that, getting proper depth, and making those 50/50 catches that he’s been making lately.”

It’s no secret that the Jets offensive staff is one of the least respected in the NFL. The likes of Adam Gase, Dowell Loggains, and company aren’t exactly held in high regard around the league.

But Ward appears to be a coach on the rise and his departure would be a significant one to a Jets coaching staff that could ill-afford to lose one of its most impressive offensive assistants.

Unfortunately, the Jets might lose their biggest selling point with Anderson looking more and more likely to have played his final game with the franchise. Even worse is the fact that a team like the Eagles could be an ideal landing spot for the speedy wideout in free agency.

Perhaps that could sway Ward to depart for greener pastures.

Either way, the Jets are likely hoping that the Eagles decide to go in a different direction and that Hines Ward continues to flourish with Gang Green.

Otherwise, the Jets will experience coaching turnover once again. Although this time, it won’t exactly be voluntary.