Leon Washington is back with Gang Green.
The New York Jets announced Wednesday that Washington, who spent the first four of his nine NFL seasons as a running back and return specialist with the team, has been hired as a special teams assistant on Robert Saleh’s staff.
Washington was a fourth-round pick out of Florida State in 2006, and was both a Pro Bowler and first-team NFL All-Pro in 2008, the year he set a Jets’ single-season franchise record with 2,337 all-purpose yards.
Overall, Washington had 2,751 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns with the Jets, and also had a Jets franchise record four kick return touchdowns while with Gang Green. Washington also played for the Seahawks, Patriots, and Titans over his nine-year career, recording 3,557 total scrimmage yards, 9,346 return yards, and 28 total touchdowns – including an NFL record-tying eight kick return TD.
As a coach, Washington had spent the last two seasons with Detroit as an assistant, working with the offense, special teams, and strength and conditioning teams as part of the team’s William Clay Ford Minority Coaching Assistantship Program.
"Working in the weight room getting them prepared physically. With the returners, just sharing my knowledge of the game. Teaching them how to read punters, teaching them how to read kickers when they're kicking the ball off. And with running backs, teaching them pass protection and how to run routes when they're coming out of the backfield. Whatever the offensive coordinator or the special teams coordinator may need, I'm there to help,” Washington told the Jets’ official website about his role in Detroit.
Washington had also spent time on the staffs in Atlanta and Jacksonville as part of the NFL’s Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship.
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