Ryan Downard Explained

Ryan Downard
Current Team:Green Bay Packers
Position:Defensive backs coach
Birth Date:June 22, 1988
Birth Place:Lima, Ohio, U.S.
High School:Shawnee
(Lima, Ohio)
College:Eastern Michigan
Pastcoaching:
  • Toledo (2013)
    Graduate assistant
  • Texas Tech (2013–2014)
    Graduate assistant
  • Cleveland Browns (–)
    Assistant coach
  • Bowling Green (2016–2017)
    Safeties coach
  • Green Bay Packers
    Defensive quality control coach
  • Green Bay Packers (–)
    Assistant defensive backs coach
  • Green Bay Packers
    Safeties coach
  • Green Bay Packers (–present)
    Defensive backs coach

Ryan Mitchell Downard (born June 22, 1988) is an American football coach and former player who is the defensive backs coach for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). Downard was previously the safeties coach for the Bowling Green Falcons.[1]

College career

After graduating from Shawnee High School, where he was nominated to the first-team All-Ohio team for multiple years, Downard chose to attend Eastern Michigan University. In Downard's redshirt freshman year, he recorded six interceptions for Eastern Michigan, tied for 12th nationally. For his performance in his redshirt freshman year, Downard was named as an honorable mention for the All-American team. Following Downard's freshman year, he remained a consistent starter, but injuries shortened his college career until he graduated in 2010.[2]

Coaching career

Following his college football career, Downard became a graduate assistant for Toledo[3] and Texas Tech[4] for five months and a year respectively.

Following his stints as a graduate assistant coach, Downard became an assistant coach for the Cleveland Browns from 2014-15.[5]

After his time with the Cleveland Browns, Downard joined the Bowling Green Falcons in 2016 and became the safeties coach in 2017.[6]

In 2018, Downard joined the Packers as a defensive quality control coach,[7] but later became the assistant defensive backs coach and was appointed safeties coach again in 2022.[8] On March 10, 2023, Downard was promoted to defensive backs coach.[9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ryan Downard . September 22, 2023 . Packers.com .
  2. Web site: Ryan Downard - Football .
  3. Web site: Downard takes the next step with graduate assistant job . June 30, 2015 .
  4. Web site: Packers hire Ryan Downard to defensive coaching staff . January 23, 2018 .
  5. Web site: Cleveland Browns scouting report: Green Bay Packers .
  6. Web site: BGSU head football coach announces staff . December 18, 2015 .
  7. Web site: Packers add Ryan Downard to coaching staff .
  8. Web site: 5 things to know about Packers safeties coach Ryan Downard .
  9. Web site: Packers finalize 2023 coaching staff . packers.com . March 10, 2023 . March 10, 2023.