Russell Wilson will be in a new home this season, but he will have a familiar face coaching him in Denver. Former pro quarterback and radio personality Jake Heaps is becoming Wilson’s full-time positional coach, as detailed by Kyle Ireland of KSL Sports.
The 30-year-old has spent the past four years at ESPN 710 Seattle, allowing him to stay close to home and to Wilson, during the decade the latter spent as a Seahawk. Heaps also worked with other QBs at various levels, but now he will be able to continue his partnership with the nine-time Pro Bowler.
“It is with mixed emotions that I tell you that I will no longer be able to host on Seattle Sports’ station” he said. “As we all know, Russell Wilson was traded and when this happened I knew that my two careers that were perfectly aligned here in Seattle had become complicated… I have resigned to pursue a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to coach Russell Wilson full-time and develop the next generation of quarterbacks.”
Heap went undrafted into the NFL in 2015, after a college career which saw him play for BYU, Kansas and Miami. He originally signed with the Jets, but found his way onto the Seahawks during the 2016 offseason. He didn’t initially make the 53-man roster, but he was brought back to the practice squad in September as insurance. After a brief stint in the CFL, he came back to Seattle in 2017. Like each of his professional stops, though, it ended quickly, leading him to his coaching career.
In Denver, Heaps will work alongside new head coach Nathaniel Hackett, who brought fellow ex-Packers staffer Justin Outten with him to serve as offensive coordinator. He will play an integral role in Wilson’s – and therefore, the team’s – success as they look to contend in the AFC.
Good for him for getting a full time gig, but…
The local 6 pm host on The Fan here in Pittsburgh proved you can do a radio show from anywhere. You can routinely hear him get in and out of his car (door chime, clunk of metal, etc.) as he phones in his show on a Bluetooth.
I wondered what happened to Heaps. It goes to show a person can be a lousy player, yet still have a positive impact as a coach.
Why is this showing up in the Seahawks feed?
maybe because heaps was associated with the seahawks and is moving to denver now?
Former seahawk and former seahawk.
“my two careers that were perfectly aligned HERE IN SEATTLE had become complicated… I HAVE RESIGNED to pursue a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity TO COACH Russell Wilson full-time and develop the next generation of quarterbacks.”
This sounds like he is currently seattle and because of this job is now leaving seattle so he will become former seattle when he starts officially in denver.
The best way to join the unemployment line is to be closely associated with Russell Wilson. The Seahawks went through OCs and QB coaches faster with Wilson than a 3 year old kid eating a chicken nugget.