Jets Hire Steelers Legend Hines Ward as Offensive Coach

The New York Jets went through a total organizational tear down with coaches, front office members, and marketing changes this year.

One added change announced Monday is the hiring of former Pittsburgh Steelers' great Hines Ward to the Jets' coaching staff.

Ward, the Steelers all-time leader in receptions (1,000), receiving yards (12,083) and touchdown receptions (85), joins the Jets' staff as an offensive assistant, where he'll work closely with wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson.

The former receiver has been around the team throughout training camp as an intern, working with the receivers and Jefferson all summer. He'll now expand to a full-time position with the team, maintaining a focus on the wide receiver position.

This is one of the few smart moves the Jets have made this offseason, with the hiring of Joe Douglas included. Ward is a future Hall-of-Fame receiver that gives the young receivers in New York a resource for information.

The likes of Robby Anderson and Jamison Crowder can only improve with the presence of Ward in meetings and around the team. Any chance they get, they should be picking his brain for information on how to be better.

This could be the first step in a long coaching career for the all-time great receiver.