Reggie Wayne - Pro Football Rumors

AFC Coaching Updates: Wayne, Raiders, Texans, Browns

March 3rd, 2023 at 9:12pm CST by Ely Allen

Despite the change in head coach from Frank Reich to Shane Steichen, former elite wide receiver Reggie Wayne will remain as the Colts‘ wide receivers coach in 2023, according to a tweet from Wayne’s account. After a challenging first year coaching one of the league’s youngest wide receivers rooms, Wayne will be back for a second year.

Last year, many knew Wayne faced a challenge. The team returned top wideout Michael Pittman, who was coming off of a 1,082-yard, six-touchdown season. The biggest issue following Pittman’s breakout year, though, was his lack of help. Behind Pittman, the Colts’ two leading wide receivers were Zach Pascal with 384 yards and T.Y. Hilton with 331 yards. Wayne needed to coach up some help for Pittman.

Wayne’s efforts of supporting Pittman focused on a healthy season for fourth-year wide receiver Parris Campbell and a strong rookie year from second-round pick Alec Pierce. Campbell had appeared in only 15 of a possible 49 games in his first three seasons and had failed to ever surpass 200 receiving yards. In 2022 under Wayne, Campbell appeared in every game and recorded career-highs in receptions (63), receiving yards (623), and receiving touchdowns (3). Pierce backed him up with a strong rookie campaign that saw him supplement Pittman and Campbell with 41 catches for 593 yards and two touchdowns.

The Colts could certainly use some more support from the depth pieces in the receivers room, but a second year of Wayne overseeing the development of Pittman, Campbell, and Pierce should excite Colts fans. That is, as long Steichen and company can figure out a strong passing option from Nick Foles, Matt Ryan, and Sam Ehlinger.

Here are a few more coaching updates from around the AFC:

The Raiders have hired Derius Swinton II as their new assistant special teams coach, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Las Vegas needed to fill the position after former assistant special teams coach Maurice Drayton left to accept the role of head coach at his alma mater, The Citadel. Swinton didn’t coach in the NFL last year after being fired from his job of special teams coordinator by the Chargers following the 2021 season.
The Texans have brought on a defensive coaching assistant from the college ranks, hiring Miami (Fla.) defensive ends coach Rod Wright as a defensive assistant, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. In his first year with the Hurricanes, Wright did a strong job of getting production out of transfers and holdovers from before the era of current head coach Mario Cristobal. This will be Wright’s first position in the NFL after coaching gigs at Texas, Sam Houston State, East Carolina, and UTSA.
We’ve covered a couple of new hires to the Browns coaching staff this offseason, but the team made a few changes to current staffers’ roles that necessitate reporting, according to Browns staff writer Anthony Polsal. Callie Brownson received the title of assistant wide receivers coach in addition to her role of chief of staff last season, and she will move into a full-time role as assistant wide receivers coach, dropping the moniker of chief of staff. Formerly an offensive quality control coach, Ashton Grant has been promoted to the role of offensive assistant with a focus on quarterbacks. After serving as a scouting assistant for the team since 2020, Riley Hecklinski has been granted the role of coordinator of coaching logistics. Former assistant defensive backs coach Brandon Lynch has been promoted to cornerbacks coach. Lastly, Kevin Rogers, who has served as a senior offensive assistant with the team since 2020, will move to the role of senior assistant/special projects.

AFC Coaching Notes: Fangio, Colts, Jaguars

February 24th, 2023 at 9:18am CST by Adam La Rose

At 64, Vic Fangio is closer to the end of his coaching career than the beginning. However, his decision to take the Dolphins‘ defensive coordinator position should not be considered a short-term commitment.

“I still have a lot of coaching left in me,” Fangio said, via Kevin Patra of NFL.com. “It’s not like I’m thinking about retirement or anything. Somebody asked, ‘How much longer are you gonna do this?’ I don’t know. It might be 10 years, if they’ll have me here for 10 years.”

After a delay between when his Miami deal was first reported and when he officially accepted it, Fangio reportedly became the league’s highest-paid coordinator. Expectations will be raised in Miami, with the former Broncos head coach and celebrated defensive mind taking charge of a unit which struggled in 2022. Fangio’s new defense has number of intriguing players on it with plenty of upside. Regardless of their performance, Fangio, who signed a three-year contract, is eyeing a lengthy stay in the Sunshine State.

Here are some other coaching updates from the AFC:

The Colts have seen plenty of turnover on their staff, one now led by Shane Steichen. The latest addition is DeAndre Smith, whom Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News tweets is leaving the Giants’ staff to head to Indianapolis. Smith spent last season as the Giants’ running backs coach and will work in the same capacity with the Colts. The 54-year-old assistant’s tenure in New York last year marked his first NFL coaching gig, following more than two decades spent in the college ranks; Smith will now reunite with Steichen, after the pair worked together at UNLV in 2009.
Steichen is not planning to make wholesale changes on offense. One assistant who is expected to stay put: franchise icon Reggie Wayne (Twitter link via The Athletic’s Zak Keefer). Wayne, who played for the Colts for 14 seasons en route to becoming a Hall of Fame finalist, began his coaching career this past season as Indianapolis’ wide receivers coach and will likely remain in that role in 2023.
The Jaguars lost Jim Bob Cooter earlier this week when he made the intra-divisional move to the Colts to become Indy’s offensive coordinator. Jacksonville found a replacement in Nick Holz (Twitter link via Mia O’Brien of 1010 XL). The veteran staffer spent 10 seasons as an NFL coach, all with the Raiders; his tenure with the team ended in 2021 after he worked as its assistant wide receivers coach. Holz spent the past season as the OC at UNLV and will now be paired alongside Jaguars OC (and close friend) Press Taylor.
After yet another injury-filled season, the Chargers are making a change on the training side. They are moving on from longtime athletic trainer Damon Mitchell, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Mitchell had spent past six years as the team’s trainer and had been with the organization long before the injury-prone stigma entered the equation, spending the past 24 years in San Diego and Los Angeles.

Colts Considering Reggie Wayne For Assistant Job

February 25th, 2022 at 4:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts have been busy adding familiar faces to their coaching staff this week, bringing in ex-Indianapolis starters Cato June and Mike Mitchell as defensive assistants. They are moving toward hiring a bigger name.

Reggie Wayne is now on Frank Reich‘s radar. The decorated ex-Colts receiver is being strongly considered for the team’s receivers coach role, Zak Keefer of The Athletic tweets. While such an addition is not expected to be finalized for a bit, CBS4’s Mike Chappell notes the parties have been in discussions for a few weeks (Twitter link).

One of the longest-tenured players in Colts history, Wayne was with the franchise for 14 seasons and made the Pro Bowl in six of those. Wayne, 43, played only for the Colts, though he did sign with the Patriots in 2015. Wayne ended up wrapping his career in early 2016, after not playing in 2015. Reich was with the Colts for six seasons during Wayne’s career and worked directly with the standout receiver in 2011, when the current Indianapolis HC was the team’s wideouts coach.

This would be Wayne’s first full-time coaching gig. The Colts are looking to replace Mike Groh, who is now the Giants’ wideouts coach. The former Eagles offensive coordinator spent the past two seasons with the Colts. Should Indianapolis hire Wayne, he will likely be set to coach some new additions to a receiving corps in need of complementary pieces around Michael Pittman. Zach Pascal and ex-Wayne teammate T.Y. Hilton are set for free agency.

Extra Points: Wayne, Lions, Fewell, Staff

May 30th, 2020 at 4:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

Reggie Wayne retired after 14 seasons four years ago, and while he only played regular-season games with the Colts, the decorated wideout was a Patriot briefly. However, the Lions showed interest in adding him in that 2015 offseason as well. Wayne was not interested, citing the Lions’ insistence he work out for them as a reason he sidestepped them en route to New England.

“I said, ‘Work out? You the Detroit Lions. Wait. Work out? I’m good,'” Wayne said during an appearance on NFL Network anchor Dan Hellie’s Helliepod podcast (via the Detroit Free Press). “Like, I can give you — I got 14 years of working out that you can see,” Wayne said. “So I was like, ‘Nah, I’m cool.’”

Then coached by former Colts HC Jim Caldwell, the Lions employed Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate as their starters at that point. Wayne did end up working out for the Patriots but cited Bill Belichick‘s success as a reason he agreed to audition for the Pats. Wayne’s Patriots tenure ended up lasting barely 10 days, with the then-36-year-old wideout asking to be released before the start of the 2015 season. Wayne added during the interview the Pats let him keep a $450K signing bonus he received.

Shifting to current matters, is the latest from around the league:

Veteran NFL assistant and two-time interim HC Perry Fewell accepted a job with the NFL this week. The league named Fewell its senior vice president of officiating administration. The former Super Bowl-winning defensive coordinator will oversee the officiating department, which will include working with outreach to GMs and head coaches. This will be the 57-year-old Fewell’s first year away from coaching since he began in the profession in the mid-1980s. Fewell has been an NFL assistant since 1998.
When the NFL revamped its Rooney Rule, it also added a provision that will feature all 32 teams housing a coaching fellowship program for minority candidates. These will be full-time positions that will last from one to two years.
The NFL made another new hire recently, tapping Jeff Miller as its new executive VP of communications, public affairs and policy, per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).
NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith is somewhat less bullish on the 2020 season unfolding than the NFL currently is.

Reggie Wayne To Retire After 14 Seasons

January 15th, 2016 at 6:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

In a conversation with CBS4Indy.com’s Mike Chappell, Reggie Wayne said he intends to retire.

Chappell reports the veteran ex-Colts receiver won’t pursue another opportunity in the league.

“Yeah, I’m done. It was fun, but it’s time. It’s just time,” Wayne told Chappell.

A 2001 Colts first-round pick, Wayne played 14 seasons in Indianapolis before briefly being employed in New England in 2015. The former Miami Hurricanes wideout will leave ranked in the top 10 in receptions (1,070, seventh all-time) and yards (14,345, eighth), with his 82 touchdown receptions ranking 23rd in league history.

“When I look at it, what else did I have to prove?” Wayne said. “In my mind, I never got as much pub as a lot of other guys, and that’s fine. I don’t care. You know what? Numbers don’t lie. … For me to be in that mix, man, that’s not too bad. I played against the elite of the elite, the best of the best. I was able to crack the top 10 of this and the top 10 of that, and be one of the best in franchise history.

“Man, not too many people can say that.”

The 37-year-old Wayne, per Chappell, expects to make an official announcement in a few weeks’ time. He finished as a six-time Pro Bowler and one-time first-team All-Pro (2010). Wayne compiled four 100-catch seasons — 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012 — and flourished as both a No. 2 wide receiver alongside Marvin Harrison in Peyton Manning‘s prodigious offense and as a No. 1 once Harrison moved on.

Wayne did not play during the regular season in 2015 after asking for and receiving his release from the Patriots.

Telling Chappell attending a Nov. 29 Colts-Buccaneers game represented the tipping point from going from player hanging on to an NFL alumnus, Wayne explained his decision.

“I finally turned into a fan, a real fan,’’ Wayne told Chappell. “I’ve got my adult beverage. I’m eating some popcorn. I’m watching fans’ reactions. I’m watching the Jumbotron. … “I thought that was the final notch for me. I felt like I needed that to help get me over that hump. A lot of guys who go to games come away and say, ‘You know what? I can still do that.’ But I needed that to realize, ‘You know what? This ain’t half bad.”

Coming off a Pro Bowl campaign in Andrew Luck‘s rookie season, Wayne’s career began rapidly trending toward the end when he tore his ACL in October of 2013. He finished the 2014 season with 779 yards — his fewest since his second season in 2002 — and suffered a torn triceps.

The Colts did not re-sign the franchise’s second-leading receiver, behind Harrison, after that campaign.

Wayne’s 93 playoff receptions currently rank second in postseason receptions behind only Jerry Rice, and his 1,254 yards (gained in 21 postseason performances) sit fourth all-time behind Rice, Michael Irvin and Cliff Branch.

Wayne will receive Hall of Fame consideration in five years, should his retirement stick, especially with the once-immense glut of wideouts being inducted. Harrison figures to follow the likes of Cris Carter, Tim Brown and Andre Reed into Canton, which will help clear the way for more modern pass-catchers’ enshrinement.

Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images

East Notes: Wayne, Brown, Tebow

September 5th, 2015 at 10:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

Bill Belichick and Reggie Wayne agreed to mutually part company when the Patriots officially released the wide receiver they employed for not even two weeks, according to Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com.

Another reason for Wayne’s abrupt departure amid the Patriots’ injury struggles at the position could stem from the wideout’s lack of enjoyment in the Pats’ environment, per team radio analyst, Scott Zolak (on Twitter).

A source told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk the the Patriots like to bring in veterans and let them learn the system to a degree, so even in the event they are cut, they could potentially fill a need later in the season if help is needed. Florio offers that Wayne might not be willing to follow in this path.

Two months shy of 37, Wayne’s beginning to sound like he’s on the way out, with a source telling Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link) the potential Hall of Fame wideout is willing to return but only in the right situation. But then again, not many veterans this far into their careers like to join up with losing franchises, so Wayne not jumping at just any chance to play makes sense.

Here are some other notes from the Eastern divisions as cut day closes.

Chip Kelly told Tim Tebow to hone his craft in Canada when the third-year Eagles coach cut the polarizing quarterback today, reports Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer (on Twitter). Tebow has previously rebuffed such opportunities, but Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com notes (on Twitter) the Toronto Argonauts hold Tebow’s CFL rights, have spoken with him before and happen to be on a bye week presently.
The Bills may not be done reshuffling their backfield. They’ve had discussions of trading Bryce Brown, Albert Breer of NFL.com tweets. Buffalo GM Doug Whaley surrendered a fourth-round pick for Brown last season. The backup to the recently relocated Fred Jackson and the less-recently relocated C.J. Spiller last season, Brown, 24, didn’t receive many opportunities in his debut Bills slate. Now a two-time LeSean McCoy understudy, Brown appears to have fallen out of favor in Buffalo. He still sits behind Anthony Dixon and potentially fifth-rounder Karlos Williams. Dixon accrued 105 carries to Brown’s 36 last season despite Brown’s 5.1 yards per tote eclipsing Dixon’s tally by a full yard.

Patriots Jettison 11 Players

September 5th, 2015 at 5:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

Reggie Wayne indeed appears among the contingent of cut Patriots, per the team’s official website, but the team’s wide receiver depth chart took another hit, at least from an experience standpoint amid the moves the Super Bowl champions made Saturday.

Brandon LaFell will begin the season on the PUP list, meaning the earliest the veteran can debut Oct. 25 at the earliest. A foot injury kept the starting wide receiver out of training camp, and it likely leaves New England to once again rely on the underwhelming Danny Amendola in the starting lineup.

The Patriots also waived Jonas Gray, he of the four-touchdown performance last season before an alarm clock-related practice absence halted the runner’s momentum.

They cut tight end Asante Cleveland and wideout Jalen Saunders, both of whom they traded for recently, notes Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (on Twitter).

The rest of New England’s cuts are as follows:

Justin Coleman, DB
Xzavier Dickson, LB
Darius Fleming, LB
Brandon King, S
Robert McClain, CB
Zach Moore, DL
Daxton Swanson, DB

Reggie Wayne Asks To Be Released

September 5th, 2015 at 2:46pm CST by Luke Adams

Less than two weeks ago, the Patriots gave Reggie Wayne a $450K signing bonus to join the team, but it appears his stint in New England will be short-lived. A source tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that the veteran wideout will not be on the Pats’ 53-man roster.

The 15-year veteran asked to be released despite just signing with the Patriots last month, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).

Retirement is an option for Wayne, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter), and he would want to do that in a Colts uniform and not with the Patriots.

Wayne’s deal with the Patriots included several bonuses and incentives, so the team won’t carry a huge chunk of dead money if the former Colt is released. Still, the Pats did sink a guaranteed $450K into Wayne, so the decision to move on so quickly means they really must not have liked what they saw from him over the last week and a half.

Wayne has indicated throughout the offseason that he wants to play one more year. It’s not clear if his outlook will change after what appears to be a brief, failed stint with the Pats. But there are a few other clubs around the NFL that could use receiving help, so perhaps he’ll catch on elsewhere.

East Notes: T. Williams, Jets, Cowboys, Wayne

August 26th, 2015 at 2:50pm CST by Luke Adams

Washington offensive tackle Trent Williams isn’t worrying about his contract situation, focusing instead on giving Washington “one of the best years of my career” in the final season of his current deal, as he tells John Keim of ESPN.com.

Keim suggests that if the two sides don’t reach an agreement on an extension, the franchise tag will be an option for Washington, but Williams’ cap hit this year is $14.23MM, so franchising him would mean committing to a salary north of $17MM for 2016. As such, it’s in Washington’s best interest to work out a longer-term arrangement, and Williams should have plenty of leverage in those negotiations.

Let’s round up a few more notes from out of the NFL’s East divisions…

Speaking today to reporters, including Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter links), Osi Umenyiora said he got an offer from a team yesterday, but didn’t want to continue his career if he wasn’t playing for the Giants. According to Garafolo, the Jets contacted Umenyiora yesterday, but didn’t make a formal contract offer — they were just checking to see whether he was really retiring. The veteran pass rusher paid an informal visit to the Jets earlier this year.
Although an earlier report suggested the Cowboys were poking around for cornerback help, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets that the team has no plans to add a corner in the wake of Orlando Scandrick‘s ACL injury. I’d expect the Cowboys to keep an eye on defensive backs who are cut next week, but it doesn’t sound like the club is in the market for a starter at all.
Field Yates of ESPN.com passes along some specific details on Reggie Wayne‘s one-year contract with the Patriots, tweeting that the wideout will earn a base salary of $1.1MM to go along with a $450K signing bonus. The pact also features $750K in per-game roster bonuses, plus additional bonuses if Wayne reaches 55 receptions ($250K) and 65 receptions (another $250K).

East Notes: Galette, Wayne, Brady, Ryans

August 25th, 2015 at 12:41pm CST by Luke Adams

There’s “a feeling” in Washington that the team will learn this week whether or not veteran pass rusher Junior Galette will face a suspension for any off-field incidents, writes John Keim of ESPN.com. Washington didn’t waste much time picking up Galette after he was released by the Saints, suggesting the front office wasn’t expecting a significant penalty. According to Keim, the club is hopeful that any Galette suspension would be for two games or less.

Here’s more from out of the NFL’s two East divisions:

Josina Anderson of ESPN.com provides a couple specific figures on Reggie Wayne‘s new contract with the Patriots, tweeting that has a maximum value of $2.8MM and features a $450K signing bonus. According to Wayne, he fielded “a lot of serious calls from some good teams,” but decided New England was the best fit for him, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Attorneys for the NFL and NFLPA met yesterday for another settlement conference regarding Tom Brady‘s case, but – as expected – the session didn’t lead to an agreement, tweets Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. The next hearing in Judge Richard Berman’s court regarding the Patriots quarterback is scheduled for August 31.
Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter links) wonders what the Mychal Kendricks extension means for Eagles linebacker DeMeco Ryans. As McLane explains, he heard earlier this year that Kendricks would likely only play one more season in Philadelphia, so the apparent change of heart from the team may be related to Ryans, who turned 31 last month.
E.J. Manuel acknowledged during training camp this year that he knows his days with the Bills may be numbered if he doesn’t play well. However, as Sal Capaccio of WGR550 details, Manuel says he loves playing in Buffalo: “I want to stay here.”