Everyone who loves the New York Jets has long loved Leon Washington. But his days with the Jets are over, it seems.
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Washington, who spent four years with the team as a running back and general utility player, has been let go as an assistant special teams coach, the New York Post reported.
"Washington, 41, had served as the assistant special teams coach for the Jets since 2021 when he arrived as part of Robert Saleh's coaching staff," wrote Brian Costello of the Post. "A source said the Jets did not renew his contract, which expired at the end of January."
It's interesting that the Jets and other NFL teams don't make this sort of information available with an official announcement. In the Jets' case, perhaps they knew there would be some blowback from fans.
This is one of several changes to the Jets' special teams staff under coordinator Brant Boyer this offseason, Costello noted. That includes the departure of special teams assistant Michael Ghobrial, who went across town to become the special teams coordinator of the New York Giants.
Apparently, Washington was replaced by Dan Shamash, who is listed as the special teams assistant, along with his other title of game management coordinator.
"Shamash is the person (head coach) Robert Saleh leans on for strategic advice on situational football like fourth downs or when to challenge," Costello wrote.
In the big scheme of things, a top assistant to the special teams coordinator doesn't mean a whole lot. Most teams could likely live without them. There are too many assistants these days in every sport at nearly every level. But this is the way the NFL operates and Washington, a former fourth-round pick, was among the Jets fan favorites in recent seasons.
