Wisconsin football wide receivers coach Jordan Reid leaving for Falcons job: Report
Wisconsin wide receivers coach Jordan Reid is headed to the NFL, leaving behind a rebuilt Badgers receiver room after one season on staff.
The University of Wisconsin football program is losing a talented young assistant coach to the NFL.
According to a report from Matt Zenitz and Nick Osen of 247Sports, Wisconsin wide receivers coach Jordan Reid is expected to join the Atlanta Falcons as an assistant quarterbacks coach, making the jump to the professional level after just one full season on Luke Fickell’s staff.
“We’re excited to add another young and talented coach to our staff,” Fickell said when Reid was hired. “Coach Reid will fit right in with our mentality of being humble and hungry, and he’s definitely a guy who is always eager to learn and grow. He’s proven the ability to build strong relationships and will fit right into what we’re building as a program.”
Reid, a Georgia native and former Ohio University standout, was named the Badgers’ wide receivers coach in January 2025 after spending two seasons leading the receiving corps at Western Michigan. Now, after building a reputation in the industry as a fast-rising young assistant in the college game, he’s headed to Atlanta to work on Kevin Stefanski’s staff.
His path has been steady and deliberate. At Western Michigan, Reid helped develop a productive group in 2024, with three receivers eclipsing 30 catches. Kenneth Womack led the way with 39 receptions for 545 yards, finishing his two seasons under Reid with 115 catches for 1,236 yards.
Before WMU, Reid sharpened his craft across a variety of roles, including internships with the Carolina Panthers and Minnesota Vikings, as well as offensive quality control and analyst positions at Wake Forest.
He also spent time as a graduate assistant at Ohio, his alma mater.
As a player, Reid was productive for the Ohio Bobcats from 2013-16, finishing with 133 catches for 1,658 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.
During his time at Wisconsin, Reid was known for his relationship-building and recruiting acumen. His departure comes at a pivotal time for the Badgers’ receiver room, which has undergone significant changes this offseason. Vinny Anthony and Jayden Ballard graduated, while Trech Kekahuna entered the transfer portal, leaving the position group in flux.
Wisconsin’s staff responded by adding high-upside transfers such as Shamar Rigby (Oklahoma State) and Zion Kearney (Oklahoma), along with Malachi Coleman (Minnesota), whose physical tools offer a lot of intrigue even if counting stats haven’t followed yet. Jaylon Domingeaux brings proven production from Southeastern Louisiana, albeit at a lower level, and the staff is also counting on some internal growth from Eugene Hilton Jr., Chris Brooks Jr., and Tyrell Henry to help stabilize the room.
“You’ve got Chris Brooks, Tyrell Henry, and Eugene Hilton Jr., all of whom played some last season but certainly didn’t have big numbers, probably were behind some of the more featured guys,” Jeff Grimes said. “And I think that I’m really excited that all three of them chose to come back.”
It’s also worth noting that Kenny Guiton previously led the wide receivers room as its position coach before shifting to quarterbacks coach. This move ultimately reshaped the coaching staff’s structure before Reid’s arrival. Blake Rolan was also added as assistant wide receivers coach. Before coming to Wisconsin, Rolan served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Southern Illinois from 2019-24, bringing play-calling experience and quarterback development background to the room.
Now, Wisconsin will pivot after one of its talented young assistants earns an opportunity at the next level. Reid not only helped reshape the room in the transfer portal but also recruited and signed three receivers in the 2026 class: Keeyshawn Tabuteau, Zion Legree, and Kash Brock, laying the groundwork for the future even as the present was still taking shape.
Reid’s departure also continues a broader reshuffling on the offensive side of the ball. Wisconsin has already seen staff turnover this offseason, with A.J. Blazek, now at UCF, no longer on the Badgers staff, and Eric Mateos from Arkansas stepping in to coach the offensive line. Running backs coach Devon Spalding also moved on to Michigan State, prompting the hire of former Minnesota assistant Jayden Everett to oversee that room.
No position coach is truly irreplaceable, and to his credit, Fickell has shown a good eye for identifying rising assistants and elevating the right people at the right time.Still, timing matters. With spring practice around the corner, the new-look Badgers need to take a big step forward after finishing No. 135 nationally in total offense at just 253.1 yards per game. Wisconsin will need to move quickly to find someone capable of stepping in, building trust in the receivers’ room, and getting up to speed on how to teach Grimes’ scheme.
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Will Fickell bring in someone new or promote from within? Seems like they have giys on staff with experience.