Jets hire Shawn Jefferson as new receivers coach
Jets wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson during an OTA at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, N.J., on June 13, 2019. Credit: Brad Penner
The Jets are bringing back a former coach in hopes of getting more out of their receivers not named Garrett Wilson.
Shawn Jefferson will be the Jets’ new receivers coach, a league source said. He spent two years as the Jets assistant head coach/wide receivers coach under Adam Gase from 2019-20. Jefferson will take over for Zach Azzanni, who served just one season as the Jets’ receivers coach.
The Jets got very little from their receivers last year other than Wilson, who caught 95 passes for 1,042 yards and three touchdowns.
The rest of the Jets’ receiving corps totaled 57 catches for 654 yards. Allen Lazard, who was expected to be the No. 2 receiver after signing a four-year, $44 million contract, had just 23 receptions for 311 yards and a touchdown. Lazard was a healthy scratch twice.
The Jets are expected to upgrade the receiver room to give Aaron Rodgers more weapons and take some pressure off of Wilson.
They’ve been linked to Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams, who played with Rodgers in Green Bay. But Las Vegas might not want to deal Adams. Among the free agents the Jets could pursue are Tee Higgins, Mike Evans, Calvin Ridley and Michael Pittman Jr.
Jefferson, who played 13 years in the NFL, has been coaching in the league since 2006. He started out as the Lions’ offensive assistant before becoming the receivers coach. Jefferson also held that position with the Titans, Dolphins, Cardinals and most recently the Carolina Panthers.
He is the second new position coach the Jets are adding on the offensive side of the ball. They’ve also hired former Titans assistant Tony Dews to be their running backs coach.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
