Joe

Whitt

Woody Johnson and the Jets continue to add names to their head coaching search as the organization prepares for yet another reset following a disastrous 2024 season. This is the first head coaching interview for Whitt, who joined Dan Quinn’s Washington staff in 2024 after bouncing around in various roles with the Cowboys, Bears, Packers, and Falcons. Under Whitt, the Commanders allowed the 12th fewest yards and the 15th most points. Washington ranked 18th in success rate allowed in 2024.

Speaking with the media on Monday at his introductory press conference, Quinn said Whitt, a first-time defensive coordinator, will call the defensive plays this season. While Whitt is new to the defensive coordinator role, his experience with Quinn and his defense should make for an easy transition for both sides. Whitt has been on various staffs with Quinn since 2020 and is more than familiar with how Quinn expects things to operate this season.

This upcoming season will mark the first for Whitt as a defensive coordinator. Whitt first joined the coaching ranks in 2000 as a student assistant at Auburn and later moved on to The Citadel as a wide receivers coach in 2002. He first joined the NFL ranks in 2007 as the Falcons’ defensive backs coach and later returned to the Falcons in 2020 to serve as the secondary coach/passing game coordinator on Dan Quinn’s staff. Quinn and Whitt would then work together with the Cowboys (2021-2023) and are not set to join forces in D.C. His familiarity with Quinn and his defensive system should bode well for Whitt in this new role. What could take some time is turning around a Commanders defense that allowed the third-most points in NFL history along with the most passing yards and touchdowns in 2023.

While Jones won’t announce who on the Cowboys’ staff he is considering, ESPN’s Todd Archer said passing game coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. and DL coach Aden Durde are expected to be among the internal candidates. Jones said his first interview with internal candidates will be on Monday morning. We’d expect the Cowboys’ search for a new DC to come to an end soon, but they’re only days removed from Dan Quinn taking the head coaching gig in Washington.

Whitt joined Quinn and the Cowboys in 2021, and was also on Quinn’s staff in 2020 during his time as Atlanta’s head coach. Whitt has coached in the NFL since 2007, spending time as a defensive backs coach, cornerbacks coach, and passing game coordinator. If the Commanders were to hire Whitt, it would mark the first time he’s served as a defensive coordinator, but his familiarity with Quinn should make for an easy transition to his new role.

Indy will also talk to Cowboys secondary coach Joe Whitt and Saints DBs coach Kris Richard early this week. This interview would seem to confirm Bradley will not be staying on with the Raiders under new coach Josh McDaniels. The Raiders were fine on defense in 2021, but Bradley would be an uninspiring replacement for Matt Eberflus.

Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has already interviewed for the Giants’ head-coaching vacancy so it looks like New York wants to export as much of the Dallas staff as possible. Whitt has also worked with current Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, who interviewed for their head-coaching vacancy as well. The Ravens and Seahawks also have interview requests put in for Whitt.

Whitt also has the title of “passing-game coordinator” in Dallas. Newly arrived from Atlanta in 2021, Whitt was around for what amounted to a complete transformation of the Cowboys’ defense under ex-Falcons coach Dan Quinn. He has been coaching in the NFL since 2007, though he has been with four different teams over the past four seasons. Whitt’s misfortune of working for so many coaches who have been fired has the silver lining of providing different perspectives, something that is desperately needed on Pete Carroll’s staff in Seattle.

Whitt interviewed for the defensive coordinator job, which went to ex-Falcons HC Dan Quinn. He’ll follow Quinn to Dallas for a lateral move as secondary coach and defensive pass game coordinator. Whitt was also on Mike McCarthy’s coaching staff with the Packers from 2008-2018.

Whitt was on Mike McCarthy’s staff in Green Bay. He spent last year as Atlanta’s defensive pass game coordinator, where the Falcons ranked dead last in pass defense, allowing a league-high 293.6 yards per game. Whitt is a longtime defensive backs coach and “trusted assistant” of McCarthy who could replace Mike Nolan in Dallas.