Todd Downing, newly appointed as the Jets’ passing game coordinator, had claimed he was speeding home due to a “death threat” when he was arrested for DUI last November, as revealed by TMZ. The media outlet obtained the dash cam footage of the incident.
At that time, Downing was the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans, fresh off a Thursday Night Football win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
The footage shows a Tennessee Highway Patrol officer trailing Downing’s Mercedes on the highway and commenting that the 42-year-old was driving at speeds well over 100 MPH.
In the body cam video, when questioned by the officer, Downing explained he was in a rush because of a death threat he had received that night. However, the officer noticed the smell of alcohol from Downing’s vehicle. Initially denying he had been drinking, Downing later admitted to having “a victory beer in Green Bay” once he was out of the car for sobriety tests.
The report indicates that Downing failed the field sobriety tests and was subsequently arrested. He completed a 48-hour jail sentence in January to resolve the matter.
Although the Titans did not impose a suspension or issue a formal punishment following the arrest, they dismissed Downing and three other assistant coaches on January 9, shortly after the season ended.