Previous Steelers WR Hines Ward Finds Unused Coaching Gig:
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After two and a half a long time absent, previous Pittsburgh Steelers wide collector Hines Ward is returning to the college positions as a wide collectors coach.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel detailed on April 13 that Arizona State has enlisted Ward as their another wide collectors coach.
“The bargain is anticipated to be finalized within the close future, sources said, bringing the Super Bowl XL MVP and two-time Super Bowl winner to the Arizona State coaching staff,” composed Thamel.
Ward will be returning to the college sideline for the primary time since 2021. To start that season, he served as uncommon partner to head coach at Florida Atlantic.
Halfway through that season, Florida Atlantic advanced Ward to wide collectors coach.
Ward played for the Steelers from 1998-2011. He made second-team All-Pro three continuous seasons from 2002-04. Ward moreover won Super Bowl MVP in February 2006.
Since his playing career, Ward has coached within the NFL and XFL in expansion to his residency at Florida Atlantic.
Arizona State Contracts Hines Ward as WR Coach:
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With the Sun Fiends, Ward will supplant Ra’Shaad Tests as wide recipients coach. Tests cleared out Arizona State this offseason to ended up an collaborator head coach and running backs coach at Oregon.
Ward’s to begin with coaching gig was with the Steelers as an hostile understudy in 2017. Two a long time afterward, he served as a full-time hostile collaborator with the Unused York Jets.
In spite of the fact that they were disposed of from playoff dispute, Ward made a difference the Planes vanquish the Steelers in Week 16 of the 2019 season. The Unused York triumph helped in keeping the Steelers from winning a playoff billet.
Following his stretch at Florida Atlantic, Ward got to be head coach of the San Antonio Brahmas within the XFL. He driven the group to a 3-7 record amid the 2023 season.
He surrendered from the position on December 28.
Ward’s coaching career has however to require off, but he ought to request a part of respect from Arizona State recipients since of his playing career. Ward wrapped up in NFL playing days with 1,000 catches, 12,083 accepting yards and 85 touchdowns. He’s to begin with in Steelers history in all three categories.
Ward is one of as it were 14 players with at slightest 1,000 gatherings in an NFL career. On the all-time accepting records, he is additionally tied for 19th in touchdowns and 28th in yards.
Will Hines Ward Inevitably Return to the NFL as an Partner Coach?
Ward will connect the Arizona State coaching staff after an offseason where he was rumored to be a candidate for the Steelers wide recipients coach opening.
After two seasons, the Steelers separated ways with previous wide recipients coach Frisman Jackson on February 5. But the Steelers contracted Zach Azzanni as their another wide recipients coach fair three days afterward.
It’s not clear on the off chance that Ward was considered for the opening. But more than likely, he was fair a prevalent choice among fans since of his playing career victory.
Ward was one of the best wide collectors in the NFL from 2001-04 when he made four straight Professional Bowls. He recorded 1,000-yard seasons in each of those a long time and after that once more in 2008 and 2009.
He had a career-best 112 catches, 1,329 accepting yards and 12 touchdowns in 2002. Ward caught 5 passes for 123 yards and a landing in his Super Bowl MVP execution in 2006.
In the event that Ward has victory with the Arizona State wide recipients, an opportunity to coach within the NFL once more could very well surface within the coming a long time.