Todd Downing’s NFL odyssey began at age 19, first driving around then-Minnesota owner Red McCombs’ grandchildren and soon thereafter working as a public relations intern for his hometown Vikings.
So when he reached a fresh and important plateau last Sunday in Tennessee, his first regular-season game as offensive coordinator for the Raiders, the adrenaline flowed, right? He barely could contain his excitement, yes?
Well, sort of.
“Honestly, it didn’t come until after the game,” Downing said. “I think our preparation really gave me a sense of peace going into the game. Afterward, there was kind of a rush of emotion because I accomplished one of my career goals.