The Jets have found their replacement for Steven Jackson.
The team announced Tuesday that it has hired Leigh Torrence as the new assistant defensive backs coach. Jackson left the Jets to become the Bengals’ cornerbacks coach earlier this offseason.
Torrence has spent the last four seasons with the New Orleans Saints. He was a coaching intern in 2016 before being promoted to a defensive assistant in 2017.
Torrence played in the NFL from 2005-2011. He was an undrafted cornerback out of Stanford that was signed by the Packers. Torrence didn’t make the Packers roster but was claimed on waivers by the Falcons and played in 10 games in 2005.
He was then picked up by Washington, where he spent the 2006, 2007 and 2008 seasons. After three seasons in the nation’s capital, Torrence moved onto the Saints, who he was with from 2009-2011. Torrence made two final stops in Washington and Jacksonville before calling it a career.
In eight seasons, Torrence recorded 108 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, nine pass defenses, two interceptions and a touchdown.
The 38-year-old will primarily work with Jets defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson.