*Eden Prairie, MN* (February 19, 2018) – The Minnesota Vikings have named Todd Downing senior offensive assistant.
Downing, who is entering his 18th NFL season, rejoins the Vikings in 2018 as a senior offensive assistant after last coaching with the club in 2005. The Eden Prairie, Minnesota native held multiple posts during his five-year stint with Minnesota from 2001-05.
Downing served as the Raiders offensive coordinator in 2017 after spending two years as quarterbacks coach. During his Raiders tenure, Downing helped Derek Carr develop into one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, guiding him to three consecutive Pro Bowls (2015-17).
Prior to his stint in Oakland, Downing coached quarterbacks in Buffalo (2014) and Detroit (2011-13). Downing also served as the Lions offensive quality control coach in 2009 and assistant quarterbacks coach in 2010.
Before working exclusively with quarterbacks, Downing served as a defensive assistant and assistant special teams coach with the St. Louis Rams from 2006-07. In 2008, he was named assistant secondary/defensive quality control coach in St. Louis.
Downing got his start at the NFL level with former Vikings Head Coach Mike Tice's staff, where he worked as an intern and coaching assistant from 2001-02 and as a football systems analyst from 2003- 04. He was named offensive quality control coach for the Vikings in 2005. He helped the Vikings achieve top-five finishes in three years (2003-05) and a playoff appearance in 2004.
Before he entered the NFL ranks, Downing began his coaching career with his alma mater, Eden Prairie High School, from 1999-2000. In 2000, he helped lead the Eagles to the Minnesota Class 5-A State Title.
Downing studied business communications at the University of Minnesota from 1999-2000 and during the summers of 2000-02, played quarterback for a semi-pro team, the Minnesota Maulers. He and his wife, Julie, have a son, Jackson.
Downing's Background
Coaching/Administration
2001-02 | Minnesota Vikings // Coaching Intern/Assistant
2003-04 | Minnesota Vikings // Football Systems Analyst
2005 | Minnesota Vikings // Quality Control - Offense
2006-07 | St. Louis Rams // Defensive Asst./Asst. Special Teams
2008 | St. Louis Rams // Asst. Secondary/Quality Control - Defense
2009 | Detroit Lions // Offensive Quality Control
2010 | Detroit Lions // Assistant Quarterbacks
2011-13 | Detroit Lions // Quarterbacks
2014 | Buffalo Bills // Quarterbacks
2015-16 | Oakland Raiders // Quarterbacks
2017 | Oakland Raiders // Offensive Coordinator
2018 | Minnesota Vikings // Senior Offensive Assistant
