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Eden Prairie Today
By the People, for the People
Two Former Eden Prairie Assistants Face Off in Super Bowl LX
Patriots receivers coach Todd Downing and Seahawks director of football research Brian Eayrs both got their start coaching youth football in Eden Prairie.
Feb. 7, 2026 at 3:55pm
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Two former assistant coaches for the Eden Prairie High School football team, Todd Downing and Brian Eayrs, will be on opposite sidelines at Super Bowl LX. Downing, now the receivers coach for the New England Patriots, and Eayrs, the director of football research for the Seattle Seahawks, both got their start coaching youth football in Eden Prairie in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Why it matters
The story highlights the deep roots of the Eden Prairie football program, which has produced numerous coaches and staffers who have gone on to successful careers in the NFL. It also showcases how even entry-level coaching positions at the high school level can lead to bigger opportunities down the road.
The details
Downing coached the freshman 'C' team at Eden Prairie High School from 1999 to 2000, while Eayrs held a similar role in 2002. Both men have gone on to have impressive careers in the NFL, with Downing serving as an assistant coach for eight different teams over the past two decades and Eayrs joining the Seahawks' staff in 2013 as the director of football research.
- Downing coached the Eden Prairie freshman 'C' team from 1999 to 2000.
- Eayrs held a similar coaching role at Eden Prairie in 2002.
The players
Todd Downing
New England Patriots receivers coach who got his start coaching the freshman 'C' team at Eden Prairie High School from 1999 to 2000.
Brian Eayrs
Seattle Seahawks director of football research who held a similar coaching role at Eden Prairie High School in 2002.
Mike Grant
The builder of the Eden Prairie football dynasty who reached 400 high school coaching victories this past season.
What they’re saying
“I think that's great — Todd making sure Wiki readers didn't think he started out as our head freshman coach. He was an assistant, coaching the 'C' freshman team.”
— Mike Grant, Eden Prairie High School Head Football Coach
The takeaway
The success of the Eden Prairie football program has extended far beyond the high school level, with two of its former assistant coaches now facing off on the biggest stage in the NFL. This story underscores the importance of entry-level coaching positions and how they can serve as launching pads for future careers in professional sports.
