Former Cowboys Coach May Already Be Leaving Dan Quinn After Just 1 Season
As the NFL offseason continues, teams around the league — including the Dallas Cowboys — are looking to flesh out their coaching staffs.
The end of the regular season means that a lot of coaches have already lost their jobs while others are being offered opportunities to start fresh elsewhere. The New York Jets are one franchise that's looking to bring in a fresh coaching staff and one candidate that they're looking at is someone who Cowboys fans are more than familiar with.
Cowboys Rumors: Jets to Interview Joe Whitt Jr. for Head Coaching Job
On Tuesday, NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported that the Jets are eyeing Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. as their next potential head coach.
"The Jets requested an interview with Commanders DC Joe Whitt Jr. for their head coaching job, per sources," Pelissero wrote on X. "It's the first HC interview for Whitt."
The #Jets requested an interview with #Commanders DC Joe Whitt Jr. for their head coaching job, per sources.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 14, 2025
It’s the first HC interview for Whitt, 46, who came with Dan Quinn from Dallas and has been an integral part of Washington’s turnaround. pic.twitter.com/PaKy11dOFw
Whitt was hired as Dan Quinn's DC after the latter signed on to be the Commanders' head coach ahead of the 2024 NFL season. The 46-year-old coach had previously served as the Cowboys' pass game coordinator and secondary coach from 2021 to 2023 before joining the NFC East rival.
It isn't shocking to learn that the Jets are interested in Whitt's services. New York owned one of the NFL's worst defenses in 2024, whereas Washington made serious improvements under the Auburn, AL native's guidance.
Here's a look at how some of the Commanders' defensive statistics compare between the last two seasons:
Commanders' Defensive Stats | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
Points Per Game | 30.5 (32nd) | 23.0 (18th) |
Total Yards Per Game | 388.9 (32nd) | 327.9 (113th) |
Passing Yards Per Game | 262.2 (32nd) | 189.5 (3rd) |
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers could be another reason why the Jets are targeting Whitt. After all, the coaching candidate spent 10 years in the Green Bay Packers organization which includes when he was the pass game coordinator in 2018 — a campaign that saw Rodgers average 277.6 passing yards per game while throwing for 25 touchdowns to two interceptions.
It likely won't be too long before the Jets decide whether they want to hire Whitt or not. It's in New York's best interest to have a new head coach and general manager under contract before free agency begins on March 12.
In the meantime, it'll be interesting to see if the Cowboys have any interest in Quinn's right-hand man after confirming that HC Mike McCarthy won't be returning for the 2025 season on Monday.
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