A deep dive into the most important numbers behind each new member of Robert Saleh‘s 2021 New York Jets coaching staff on the offensive side.
We’ll be breaking down all of the offensive coaching hires announced by the New York Jets following Robert Saleh’s introductory press conference on Thursday afternoon:
We’ve also hired nine assistants to our offensive coaching staff.
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— New York Jets (@nyjets) January 21, 2021
Miles Austin (Wide Receivers)
Career:
- Offensive Quality Control – 49ers (2019)
- Pro and College Scouting Intern – Cowboys (2017-18)
A native of Summit, NJ and a product of Monmouth College, Austin is well-known for his 10 years in the NFL from 2006-15. The first eight of those years came in Dallas, where Austin posted 4,481 receiving yards and 34 touchdowns. He closed his career with one season each in Cleveland and Philadelphia.
Austin served as a pro and college scouting intern for the Cowboys from 2017-18, focusing on wide receivers and defensive backs. He then served as the offensive quality control coach for the 49ers during their 2019 NFC Championship season but did not coach in 2020.
Rob Calabrese (Quarterbacks)
Career:
- Offensive Quality Control – Broncos (2019-20)
- Offensive Coordinator – Wagner College (2017-18)
- Running Backs and Assistant Special Teams – Wagner College (2016)
- Graduate Assistant – Central Florida (2014-15)
A 30-year-old native of Islip Terrace, NY, Calabrese broke school records for passing yards and passing touchdowns at East Islip High School that were previously held by Boomer Esiason.
Calabrese got his break in 2017 when he was promoted to the offensive coordinator role at Wanger College in Staten Island. He replaced Rich Scangarello, who left Wagner to become the quarterbacks coach for the 49ers. Scangarello coached alongside Robert Saleh in San Francisco from 2017-18.
In 2018, Calabrese led the Wagner offense to 28.0 points per game, the school’s best average since 2009. The season following Calabrese’s exit, Wagner’s scoring production was sliced in half, putting up just 13.8 points per game.
Calabrese entered the NFL in 2019 as the offensive quality control coach for the Broncos, a role he held through 2020. Scangarello was the Broncos’ offensive coordinator that season (Scangarello’s first and only season in the role for Denver). In 2020, Calabrese worked under offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur and alongside quarterbacks coach Mike Shula.
Todd Washington (Offensive Assistant)
Career:
- Offensive Assistant – Jets (2019-20)
- Tight Ends/Tackles – D.C. Defenders (XFL – 2019) – left for Jets prior to season’s start
- Offensive Line – Orlando Appolos (AAF – 2019)
- Assistant Offensive Line – Ravens (2011-15)
- Offensive Line – Hartford (2010)
- Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line – San Diego (2009)
- Offensive Line – San Diego (2007-08)
Washington is returning for a third season with the Jets after holding an assistant role over the past two years.
A native of Virginia and product of Virginia Tech, Washington was an interior offensive lineman in the NFL for eight years (1998-2005). He spent five seasons with the Buccaneers, winning a Super Bowl in the 2002 season, even starting two games in the regular season that year. His final three seasons came with the Texans.
Washington was an assistant offensive line coach for the Ravens from 2011-15. Over that span, Baltimore allowed the seventh-fewest sacks in the NFL (2.0 per game).
John Benton (Offensive Line and Run Game Coordinator)
Career:
- Offensive Line – 49ers (2017-20)
- Assistant Offensive Line – Jaguars (2016)
- Offensive Line – Dolphins (2014-15)
- Offensive Line – Texans (2006-13)
- Offensive Line – Rams (2003-05)
- Offensive Line – Colorado St. (1995-02)
- Recruiting Coordinator – California (PA) (1990-94)
- Graduate Assistant – Colorado St. (1987-89)
An offensive line coach in the NFL since 2003, Benton is one of the most experienced members of Saleh’s staff.
Benton came to San Francisco in 2017, inheriting a fledgling offensive front. In 2016, the 49ers’ offensive linemen had combined for an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 63.8, which ranked 29th in the NFL that season.
Over Benton’s tenure, the San Francisco offensive line became one of the league’s best. From 2017-20, the 49ers’ offensive linemen combined for an overall PFF grade of 69.8, seventh-best in the NFL over that span.
Mike McGlinchey, a 2018 first-round pick out of Notre Dame, developed into one of the league’s better right tackles under Benton. He was ranked as the ninth-best right tackle in football by PFF in 2020, posting a sparkling overall grade of 79.7. In particular, McGlinchey led all right tackles with a 91.3 run blocking grade.
Laken Tomlinson, a 2015 first-round pick out of Duke by the Lions, was quickly booted from Detroit after two disappointing seasons to begin his career. He came to the 49ers in 2017 and has gotten his career back on track under Benton. Tomlinson started at left guard in all but one of San Francisco’s games from 2017-20. In 2020, Tomlinson was ranked as the NFL’s fourth-best left guard by PFF with a career-high 78.8 overall grade.
Mike LaFleur (Offensive Coordinator)
Career:
- Passing Game Coordinator – 49ers (2019-20)
- Passing Game Coordinator and Wide Receivers – 49ers (2017-18)
- Offensive Assistant – Falcons (2015-16)
- Offensive Intern – Browns (2014)
- Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers – Davidson (2013)
- Offensive Coordinator – St. Joseph’s (2011-12)
- Quarterbacks Coach – St. Joseph’s (2010)
- Offensive Assistant – Elmhurst (2009)
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