On Sunday, the Jets interviewed a candidate who helped the Commanders pull off a significant upset on Saturday evening.
Washington defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. spoke to the Jets about their teaching emptiness. He’s the sixteenth individual to interview for the job since Robert Saleh was fired in October.
After firing Joe Douglas final November, the Jets are additionally searching for a brand new common supervisor. On Jan. 11, they interviewed Commander assistant common supervisor Lance Newmark for the function. Interviewing Whitt is smart as a result of in the event that they rent Newmark, the Jets might have continuity from the entrance workplace to the enjoying discipline.
Whitt, 46, is in his first season because the Commanders’ defensive coordinator. He has been an assistant within the NFL since 2007 and has labored in varied roles with the Falcons, Packers, and Browns. Earlier than changing into the Commanders’ defensive coordinator, Whitt was the Cowboys’ cross sport coordinator/secondary for 3 seasons (2021-23). Throughout that point, Dallas led the NFL in interceptions.
Dan Quinn employed Whitt after he employed him as Commanders coach final yr. Quinn additionally got here from Dallas, the place he was the crew’s defensive coordinator for 3 seasons.
Whitt’s protection was instrumental to the Commanders’ success in the course of the 2024 season. A yr after the Commanders had been useless final in each classes, they ranked thirteenth in yards (327.9) and 18th in factors allowed (23.0).
That helped Washington to a 12-5 report and a sixth-seed within the NFC a yr after they had been one of many worst groups within the league in 2023, following a 4-13 report.
“Everybody plays together,” Whitt stated in an article lately printed by Tyler Dunne on GoLong. “And that’s what I’m most proud of with this unit. We run. We play hard. We hit. We’re a good tackling team. We’re a good tackling team because we’re connected to each other and you’ll see.”
The Commanders upset the Buccaneers 23-20 within the NFC wild-card sport. On Saturday evening, they defeated the No. 1 seed Lions 45-31 to advance to the NFC Championship for the primary time since 1991.
Not solely does Whitt perceive soccer’s Xs and Os, however he additionally is aware of how you can talk along with his gamers.
“[Whitt is] good at explaining things, and if we don’t get it, he’s just going to throw it out,” Washington edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr. informed the Washington Submit. “He’s not going to make it rocket science.”
The Jets have had an intensive seek for their subsequent coach following a disappointing 5-12 season.
In November, Jets proprietor Woody Johnson employed The thirty third Group, led by ex-Jets common supervisor Mike Tannenbaum, to establish 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 have all been interviewed for the Jets teaching place. Vrabel was employed because the Patriots’ coach on Jan. 12.
The Falcons employed Ulbrich as their defensive coordinator on Jan. 18.
