Another name in the Jets coaching search has emerged: according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Gang Green has requested an interview with Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.
Whitt, 46, is in his first year as the Commanders’ DC after following Dan Quinn from Dallas, where he spent three years as pass game coordinator and secondary coach while Quinn was the Cowboys’ DC. He was also Quinn’s pass game coordinator in 2020 in Atlanta, a year where Quinn was fired as Falcons head coach after an 0-5 start.
The former Auburn wide receiver began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater in 2000, and moved to the NFL in 2007; he has been a defensive coach in some capacity in all but his first true season as an assistant – he was wide receivers coach at The Citadel in 2002 – and added pass game coordinator to his title from 2018-23 with the Packers, Browns, Falcons, and Cowboys.
Per NFL rules, the Jets can virtually interview Whitt once for up to three hours right now, and cannot interview him in-person until two days after the weekend the Commanders are eliminated from the playoffs.
Washington is at Detroit Saturday night, so a loss in that game means Whitt can interview as soon as next Tuesday.
Whitt is now the third Washington assistant to draw reported interest this offseason; offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has reportedly had interest from the Bears and Saints, while Anthony Lynn, the former Chargers head coach and current run game coordinator/running backs coach in DC, has also been mentioned as a ‘name to watch’ for the Jets’ opening.
The Jets have cast a wide net this year with their interviews, ranging from veteran head coaches out of the game in 2024 (Rex Ryan, Ron Rivera, and Mike Vrabel) to former head coaches working elsewhere (Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo and OC Matt Nagy) to hot assistants (Lions DC Aaron Glenn), as well as their own interim coach, Jeff Ulbrich, and Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi – and they’ve even dipped into the college game with Maryland head coach Mike Locksley.