After losing Jeff Blasko to the Cleveland Browns, the New York Jets have hired Alfredo Roberts as their tight ends coach for the 2026 season.

What does Roberts bring to the table? Let’s unpack his resume and outlook with the Jets.

NFL job history

  • Tight ends coach, Jacksonville Jaguars (2003-06)
  • Tight ends coach, Cleveland Browns (2007-08)
  • Tight ends coach, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2009-11)
  • Tight ends coach, Indianapolis Colts (2012-15)
  • Running backs coach, Los Angeles Chargers (2017-19)
  • Tight ends coach, Los Angeles Chargers (2020)
  • Tight ends coach, Pittsburgh Steelers (2021-25)

After a six-year playing career at the NFL level as a tight end, spending time with the Kansas City Chiefs (1998-90) and the Dallas Cowboys (1991-93), Roberts began his coaching career in 1999 at FAU (Florida Atlantic University) as a running backs coach, spending four seasons as a coach on the Owls’ staff.

He got his first coaching job in the NFL as the Jaguars’ tight ends coach in 2003 and has had six stints as a tight ends coach at the professional level.

Development track record

Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers

Throughout his five-year run as the Steelers’ tight ends coach, he helped turn Pat Freiermuth into one of the league’s top pass-catching TEs.

Selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft, Roberts helped Freiermuth earn a four-year $48 million contract extension with the Steelers in 2024.

With the 60-year-old overseeing his development, Freiermuth finished the 2024 season ranked 12th among TEs in receiving yards with 668 while notching seven touchdowns, the third most at the position, and finished 2025 ranked eighth among qualified tight ends (minimum 40 targets) with an average of 12 yards per reception.

The Penn State product has also spoken glowingly about Roberts, calling him the “best coach in the world.”

“[He is the] best coach in the world,” Freiermuth said of Roberts, per the Steelers’ official website. “He’s always in my ear about doing the extra things because he’s played in the NFL, and he knows what it takes to be successful. It’s awesome to have a coach who cares that much, one who cares as much about your success as I care about mine.”

“He’s a great coach and a great friend,” the 27-year-old continued.

Darnell Washington, Pittsburgh Steelers

Washington, 24, was selected by Pittsburgh in the third round of the 2023 draft, and after two uninspiring seasons to kick off his NFL career, the Georgia product took a significant leap in 2025 under Roberts’ watch.

In 2025, he set a career high in targets (43), receptions (31), yards (364), yards per reception (11.7), and run-blocking grade per Pro Football Focus (73.1).

His 11.7 yards per catch ranked 9th among qualified tight ends, while his stellar 73.1 run-blocking grade ranked 5th among qualified TEs (minimum 250 blocking snaps).

2014 Colts

When Roberts joined the Colts’ coaching staff as their tight ends coach in 2012, he inherited a rare situation. Indy selected two tight ends with top selections in the 2012 draft: second-round pick Coby Fleener and third-round selection Dwayne Allen.

By 2014, that duo made NFL history under Roberts’ guidance. They each caught eight touchdowns that season—the first time in NFL history two tight ends on the same team did that in one season.

With Roberts on the Colts’ staff, Indy logged a 41-23 record, the third-best mark among tight end coaches in franchise history.

Outlook with the Jets

Roberts’ main responsibility with the Jets will be developing Mason Taylor.

The Jets selected Taylor in the second round of last year’s draft, and all things considered, he showed promise throughout his rookie campaign despite the team’s horrific quarterback play, leading rookie tight ends with 11 contested catches.

Taylor also projects as a perfect fit in new offensive coordinator Frank Reich’s scheme, as the 64-year-old has historically relied on an 11-personnel-heavy scheme, which bodes well for the LSU project because it would mean fewer snaps for Jeremy Ruckert, who fits more in 12-personnel sets as a physical blocker, while Taylor is more of a shifty, route runner.

An upgrade over Blasko?

While there is no doubt Blasko did a solid job last season as Ruckert grew significantly under his watch and earned a two-year extension, and Taylor flashed his upside given the circumstances, it is difficult not to view Roberts as an upgrade given his stellar development track record.

It is also important to note that the Jets didn’t voluntarily part ways with Blasko—he was poached by Cleveland. Given that, head coach Aaron Glenn deserves credit for acting quickly to secure a seasoned coach like Roberts.