(Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
Former Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward is leaving the NFL ranks of coaching and heading to Florida Atlantic's coaching staff, according to Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.
Ward is expected to work alongside new FAU wide receivers coach Joey Thomas, a former NFL and CFL player. Ward does have a connection to the FAU program, as David Kelly, who is now FAU's coordinator of player personnel, was on Georgia's coaching staff when Ward played there in the 1990s.
Ward was on Adam Gase's Jets coaching staff the last two years, one season as an intern and the other as an assistant offensive coach. He was also a coaching intern during training camp with the Steelers in 2017.
Ward was drafted by the Steelers in the third round out of Georgia in 1998 and played 14 seasons in Pittsburgh. Ward is the Steelers' all-time leader in receptions (1,000), receiving yards (12,083) and touchdown receptions (85). He also won two Super Bowls with the Steelers and was the MVP of Super Bowl XL.