{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1972)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{more footnotes needed|date=October 2014}} {{Use American English|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Gary Downs | number = 34, 45 | position = Running back | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|6|6|mf=y}} | birth_place = New Bern, North Carolina, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 1 | weight_lb = 210 | high_school = Spencer (Columbus, Georgia) | college = NC State | draftyear = 1994 | draftround = 3 | draftpick = 95 | pastteams = * New York Giants ({{NFL Year|1994}}) * Denver Broncos ({{NFL Year|1995}}) * New York Giants ({{NFL Year|1996}}) * Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|1997|2000}}) | pastcoaching = * Riverside Military Academy (GA) (2003)<br>Running backs coach * Riverside Military Academy (GA) (2004–2006)<br>Offensive coordinator * Amsterdam Admirals (2007)<br>Running backs coach * Mount Pisgah Christian School (GA) (2007–2011)<br>Offensive coordinator * Riverside Military Academy (GA) (2012–2014)<br>Head coach * East Tennessee State (2015–2017)<br>Running backs coach * East Tennessee State (2018–2021)<br>Running backs coach & recruiting coordinator | statlabel1 = Rushing yards | statvalue1 = 149 | statlabel2 = Rushing average | statvalue2 = 3.3 | statlabel3 = Receptions | statvalue3 = 9 | statlabel4 = Receiving yards | statvalue4 = 66 | pfr = DownGa00 }}

'''Gary McClinton Downs Jr.''' (born June 6, 1972) is an American former professional football running back and coach who played for the NFL's New York Giants, Denver Broncos, and Atlanta Falcons.<ref name="ETSU">{{cite web|url=http://www.etsubucs.com/football/coaches/7621/gary-downs/|title=Gary Downs - Football Coaches - Official Site of ETSU Athletics|work=ETSUBucs.com|access-date=March 20, 2015|archive-date=April 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415100707/http://www.etsubucs.com/football/coaches/7621/gary-downs/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was also an assistant coach for NFL Europa's Amsterdam Admirals.<ref name="ETSU"/> He is the father of football players Josh and Caleb Downs.

== Career == {{NFL predraft | height ft = 5 | height in = 11 7/8 | weight = 212 | dash = 4.61 | ten split = 1.62 | twenty split = 2.64 | shuttle = 4.28 | vertical = 33.0 | arm span = 31 1/4 | hand span = 9 3/8 }}

Downs played college football at North Carolina State University and was selected 95th overall in the third round of the 1994 NFL draft by the Giants.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1994 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1994/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He played in 69 games over six NFL seasons from 1994 to 2000. He rushed for 149 yards and caught nine passes for 66 yards.<ref name="ETSU" />

== Personal life == Gary Downs’ spouse is Tanya Shorter Downs from Cary N.C. They have three children, including a daughter Kameron and sons Josh and Caleb. Kameron played women's soccer for Kennesaw State University before attending medical school at Wake Forest University. Josh was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round, 79th overall, of the 2023 NFL Draft, and was a wide receiver for North Carolina. Caleb was a 5-star recruit who played his freshman season as safety at the University of Alabama, and is now a true Junior at Ohio State University.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Sources== *[http://www.nfleurope.com/teams/coaches NFL Europa profile] *{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930024946/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=DOWNSGAR01 Gary Downs stats at databasefootball.com]}}

{{Giants1994DraftPicks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Downs, Gary}} Category:Living people Category:1972 births Category:Sportspeople from Columbus, Georgia Category:American football running backs Category:NC State Wolfpack football players Category:New York Giants players Category:Denver Broncos players Category:Atlanta Falcons players Category:Amsterdam Admirals coaches Category:Players of American football from Columbus, Georgia Category:20th-century American sportsmen

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