WATCH: Jets hire Steelers legend Hines Ward as offensive assistant

Ward spent the summer with the Jets as a coaching intern

The New York Jets are adding one of the all-time greats in NFL history to their offensive staff. The team announced on Monday the hiring of former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward as a full-time offensive assistant. 

Ward was one of four Bill Walsh coaching interns for the Jets during the summer. 

Jets GM Douglas previously looked into Ward when he was the Philadelphia Eagles vice president of pro personnel. Soon after Douglas was hired by the Jets, he contacted Ward. 

“It was this summer when Joe said something to me about how they kind of talked about bringing him in at Philly at one point to work in a training camp, and he had done it in Pittsburgh,” Jets coach Adam Gase said to NY Jets.com. “When his name came up, he reached out to Hines and then I had a conversation with Hines and we got it done.”

During camp, Ward worked alongside WR coach Shawn Jefferson and was showered with praise by one of the Jets' top receivers. 

“He’s a great resource because he’s done it at a high level consistently,” Robby Anderson said to NY Jets.com. “He’s a future Hall of Famer so what more can I ask for? I’m picking his brain, and he’s more so telling me than I’m asking him, and I’m just staying on top of him. He’s just trying to find ways to get me better in each way.”

Ward was a third-round pick out of Georgia and spent his entire 15-season career with the Steelers. Ward is a two-time Super Bowl champion and is the career leader for the Steelers in receptions (1,000), receiving yards (12,083) and touchdown catches (85).