Jets interview Commanders DC Joe Whitt Jr. for coaching position

On Sunday, the Jets interviewed a campaigner who helped the Commanders propulsion disconnected a large upset connected Saturday night.

Washington antiaircraft coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. spoke to the Jets astir their coaching vacancy. He is the 16th idiosyncratic to interrogation for the occupation since Robert Saleh was fired successful October.

After firing Joe Douglas past November, the Jets are besides seeking a caller wide manager. On Jan. 11, they interviewed Commander adjunct wide manager Lance Newmark for the role. Interviewing Whitt makes consciousness due to the fact that if they prosecute Newmark, the Jets could person continuity from the beforehand bureau to the playing field.

Whitt, 46, is successful his archetypal play arsenic the Commanders’ antiaircraft coordinator. He has been an adjunct successful the NFL since 2007 and has worked successful assorted roles with the Falcons, Packers, and Browns. Before becoming the Commanders’ antiaircraft coordinator, Whitt was the Cowboys’ walk crippled coordinator/secondary for 3 seasons (2021-23). During that time, Dallas led the NFL successful interceptions.

Dan Quinn hired Whitt aft helium hired him arsenic Commanders manager past year. Quinn besides came from Dallas, wherever helium was the team’s antiaircraft coordinator for 3 seasons.

Whitt’s defence was instrumental to the Commanders’ occurrence during the 2024 season. A twelvemonth aft the Commanders were dormant past successful some categories, they ranked 13th successful yards (327.9) and 18th successful points allowed (23.0).

That helped Washington to a 12-5 grounds and a sixth-seed successful the NFC a twelvemonth aft they were 1 of the worst teams successful the league successful 2023, pursuing a 4-13 record.

“Everybody plays together,” Whitt said successful an nonfiction precocious published by Tyler Dunne connected GoLong. “And that’s what I’m astir arrogant of with this unit. We run. We play hard. We hit. We’re a bully tackling team. We’re a bully tackling squad due to the fact that we’re connected to each different and you’ll see.”

The Commanders upset the Buccaneers 23-20 successful the NFC wild-card game. On Saturday night, they defeated the No. 1 effect Lions 45-31 to beforehand to the NFC Championship for the archetypal clip since 1991.

Not lone does Whitt recognize football’s Xs and Os, but helium besides knows however to pass with his players.

“[Whitt is] bully astatine explaining things, and if we don’t get it, he’s conscionable going to propulsion it out,” Washington borderline rusher Dante Fowler Jr. told the Washington Post. “He’s not going to marque it rocket science.”

The Jets person had an extended hunt for their adjacent manager pursuing a disappointing 5-12 season.

In November, Jets proprietor Woody Johnson hired The 33rd Team, led by ex-Jets wide manager Mike Tannenbaum, to place candidates and coordinate interviews.

Ron Rivera, Mike Vrabel, Rex Ryan, Matt Nagy, Aaron Glenn, Mike Locksley, Steve Spagnuolo, Darren Rizzi, Jeff Ulbrich, Vance Joseph, Arthur Smith, Bobby Slowik, Brian Flores, Jeff Hafley, and Josh McCown person each been interviewed for the Jets coaching position. Vrabel was hired arsenic the Patriots’ manager connected Jan. 12.

The Falcons hired Ulbrich arsenic their antiaircraft coordinator connected Jan. 18.