coaching staff

New York Jets assistant coach Greg Knapp passes away at 58

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New York Jets

Knapp, an NFL coaching staple since 1997, was set to be the New York Jets’ passing game coordinator after three years in Atlanta.

The New York Jets confirmed the passing of assistant coach Greg Knapp on Thursday afternoon. Knapp, 58, was critically injured when he was struck by a vehicle while riding his bike over the weekend in San Ramon, CA.

“Today at 11:32 am PST, Greg Knapp (aka Knapper) was called back home to Heaven, where he will be reunited with his Dad,” the Knapp family wrote in a statement on the Jets’ website. “Those of us who were so blessed to have known him, know that he would have wanted even this moment to be a teachable one. So this is it…”Live every day as if it’s your last, and love those around you like it won’t last!”

“Greg’s infectious personality is most people’s first and lasting memory of him. The phrase “He never met a stranger” encapsulates Knapper’s zest for life. He had a unique gift to make everyone feel special, and to Knapper, they all were. While his family, friends, and players still had so much to learn from him and desperately wished they had more time with him, God called an audible and wanted to go over the game plan directly with him. It will certainly be a masterpiece, just like Greg!”

Knapp was set to join the Jets after three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons as the quarterbacks coach. He had been a staple on NFL coaching staffs since 1997 after a record-breaking career as a passer at Sacramento State. His time in the league included offensive coordinator stints in San Francisco (2001-03), Atlanta (2004-06), Oakland (2007-08, 2012), and Seattle (2009).

Through his coaching endeavors, Knapp is perhaps best known for his time as the Denver Broncos’ quarterbacks coach, working with Peyton Manning during one of the most illustrious statistical seasons in NFL history (5,477 yards and 55 touchdown passes during the 2013 campaign). Two years later, he became a Super Bowl champion, partaking in the Broncos’ triumph over Carolina in the game’s 50th edition. Other quarterbacks who worked under Knapp included Steve Young, Jeff Garcia, Michael Vick, and Matt Ryan.

Tributes poured in from both the Jets spectrum and across the league after news of Knapp’s passing broke.

“In his short time with us, Greg had an immediate influence on those who had the pleasure of spending the smallest amount of time with him,” Jets chairman Woody Johnson said. “His legacy is not only working with some of the brightest quarterbacks the league has ever seen, but the countless others across this world he has had an indelibly positive influence on.”

“He lived life in a loving way that helped him connect with people from all walks of life in a unique way,” head coach Robert Saleh added. “Greg had such an inner peace about him that people always seemed to gravitate towards.”

Knapp is survived by his wife Charlotte and their three daughters Jordan, Natalie, and Camille. Well-wishers are encouraged to post here.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

Miles Austin, Taylor Embree headed to New York Jets staff (Report)

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Austin and Embree are the latest names reported to be joining Robert Saleh’s new staff with the New York Jets.

With Robert Saleh’s New York Jets contract officially signed, his staff reportedly continues to grow.

Former receivers Miles Austin and Taylor Embree are coming to the metropolitan area, according to Peter Schrager of NFL Network (Schrager has also called Jets preseason games in recent summers). Austin will take over the receivers’ coach spot, while Embree will take over as the running backs coach.

Austin, 36, would return to New Jersey after a 10-year career primarily spent with the Dallas Cowboys. A native of Summit and alum of Garfield High School and Monmouth University, Austin led the NFL in receiving yardage during his breakout season in 2009, earning 1,320 en route to Dallas’ NFC East title. His 250 receiving yards in a win over Kansas City from that season still stands as a Cowboys record. Following his eight seasons in Dallas, which included a pair of Pro Bowl appearances (2009-10), Austin played two final seasons with Cleveland and Philadelphia. Injuries marred the final parts of his career, as Austin managed to play a full 16-game season only once after his final five campaigns.

Following his playing career, Austin rejoined the Cowboys, this time working in their scouting department. He would later spend a year alongside Saleh in 2019 as an offensive quality control coach with San Franciso, joining him in Super Bowl LIV. Austin left the team prior to the 2020 season. In the interim, Austin went back to Monmouth and earned his degree in political science. He previously departed Long Branch as the program’s all-time leader in receiving yards and was the first former Hawk to appear in a regular season NFL game.

Embree, 32, likewise worked with Saleh during his years with the 49ers, spending three seasons as an offensive quality control coach. He was likewise part of the 49ers group that went to the most recent Super Bowl, ironically falling to the Kansas City Chiefs, with whom he worked as a defensive assistant. More recently, Embree served as the tight ends coach at Colorado University under Karl Dorrell, his former head coach at UCLA. The Buffaloes went 4-1 in a shortened season and advanced to the Alamo Bowl, their first postseason appearance since 2016.

During his time with the Bruins, Embree earned 1,776 yards on 137 receptions over a four-year career. The 531 yards he earned during his rookie campaign were a program record for a true freshman. He later partook in the San Diego Chargers’ training camp proceedings during the summer of 2013.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

New York Jets: Robert Saleh’s staff reportedly taking shape

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New York Jets

Robert Saleh has apparently wasted no time in assembling his New York Jets assistants, bringing some familiar faces in from San Francisco.

Per Michael Silver of Sports Illustrated, New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh is taking some of his colleagues across the country for an extended business trip.

Silver, SI’s San Francisco-based correspondent, Mike LaFleur and John Benton are joining Saleh in green. LaFleur will serve as the team’s offensive coordinator (a move first teased by ESPN’s Adam Schefter earlier this week) while Benton will reprise his role as an offensive line coach and also serve as the team’s run game coordinator. Silver has also reported that Saleh will also welcome in Greg Knapp and Rob Calabrese as the quarterbacks coach and a pass game specialist.

LaFleur spent the last four years in San Francisco as the team’s passing game coordinator, working alongside Jimmy Garoppollo during the latter’s first years as a full-time NFL starter. His first two years in the Bay Area also saw him work as the receivers coach. He previously partook in a Super Bowl trek during the 2016-17 season, working as an offensive assistant with the NFC champion Atlanta Falcons. LaFleur is the younger brother of Matt, who will compete for a Super Bowl appearance of his own as a head coach next Sunday in the NFC title game against Tampa Bay (3:05 p.m. ET, Fox).

Bento has been in the NFL for the past 19 seasons, including the last four alongside Saleh in San Francisco. His blocking unit was ranked ninth in Pro Football Focus’ offensive line rankings, earning particular praise for his work with Trent Williams, who was the analytical site’s top-graded left tackle after missing the entire 2019 season.

Knapp has been working in the NFL almost non-stop since 1997, taking only the 2017 season off. He spent the past three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, helping Matt Ryan post the best numbers of his career since his 2016 MVP season. Other quarterbacks to work under Knapp include Steve Young, Jeff Garcia, Michael Vick, and Peyton Manning.

The hire of Calabrese is a bit of a local affair, as the 30-year-old is a native of Islip Terrace on Long Island, spending two seasons as the offensive coordinator at Wagner. His prior job with the Denver Broncos in offensive quality control was his first in the NFL after his time with the local Seahawks. Calabrese was in fact a contender to start at quarterback during Denver’s issues with COVID-19 leading up to their Week 12 contest against New Orleans, as the team lost all of their regular throwers due to protocols. He previously worked as the quarterback at East Islip High School, taking the program to heights previously experienced under future NFL star and current WFAN personality Boomer Esiason.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags