SAN FRANCISCO — A year ago, Todd Downing was part of a terrible 5-12 season with the Jets.
Now, he’s in the Super Bowl.
Downing is the Patriots wide receivers coach.
He went to New England after a two-year stint with the Jets as the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
In 2024, he took over the play-calling after five games as part of changes made when head coach Robert Saleh was fired.
“It’s been a 25-year career of ups and downs,” Downing said this week. “I feel very fortunate to be here. It’s such an awesome opportunity and I don’t want to waste it.”
As for his time with the Jets, Downing said he really believed they had the right pieces to turn things around.
“I’m definitely bummed out and disappointed that we weren’t able to get things going in New York,” Downing said. “I really believed in my core that we had the right people to do the right things. When I took over as a play-caller, I was hoping I could steady things up. I am proud of some of the things we did after I took over. Ultimately, this profession is about results and when you don’t have the results, things are going to change.”
Downing said he remains in touch with many of the players and coaches he was with in New York and said he was rooting for guys like Saleh and Aaron Rodgers this year.
“I’m always cheering those guys on,” Downing said. “Happy for Coach Saleh to have another opportunity in Tennessee. I’m excited to see what Aaron’s future is.”
Cory Durden did not really understand why the Giants waived him at the end of training camp last summer.
Two days later, though, he was signed by the Patriots and he’s now in the Super Bowl.
“I got cut by New York right out of training camp, kind of a surprise a little bit because I was a backup the majority of camp,’’ Durden told The Post this week. “Got signed here pretty fast, was on the practice squad my first day and then got signed to the active roster the next day and the rest has been pretty much history. I put together a pretty good year, playing good football and now trying to win a Super Bowl, that’s the next goal.’’
As it turned out, the Patriots saw something in Durden, a 27-year old defensive tackle.
He played in all 17 games and made four starts.
“I didn’t think we’d … I’m not going to say I didn’t think, I didn’t know we’d make it to the Super Bowl, but I knew we’d win more than four games,’’ Durden said.
Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori practiced fully Friday after suffering an ankle sprain Wednesday.
He has no injury designation for the game.
“No designation for Nick,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald told a pool reporter. “Turns out he’s alive.”
As for the Patriots, LB Robert Spillane (ankle), OLB Harold Landry (knee) and DT Joshua Farmer (hamstring) are questionable.
QB Drake Maye is not on the injury report after dealing with a right shoulder injury he suffered in the AFC Championship Game.
