Joe Whitt Jr.
Dallas Cowboys
Position:Secondary coach/pass game coordinator
Personal information
Born: (1978-07-19) July 19, 1978
Auburn, Alabama, U.S.
Career information
High school:Auburn (AL)
College:Auburn
Career history
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards

Joe Whitt Jr. (born 1978) is an American football coach who is currently the secondary coach for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He previously was the defensive pass game coordinator and cornerbacks coach of the Green Bay Packers and secondary coach/pass game coordinator for the Cleveland Browns and for the Atlanta Falcons.

Coaching career

Whitt attended Auburn High School, graduating in 1997, and was a walk-on wide receiver for the Auburn Tigers football team the following season before earning a scholarship. When an injury ended his playing career, Whitt became a student assistant at Auburn University. After completing a degree in communications in 2001, Whitt was hired as wide receivers coach at The Citadel before moving on to become cornerbacks coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Louisville under head coach Bobby Petrino in 2003. In 2006, Whitt moved with Petrino to the Falcons.[1]

Whitt Jr. spent time with the Atlanta Falcons in 2007 as an Assistant Defensive Backs coach.

Green Bay Packers

After the majority of the defensive coaching staff was fired after a disappointing 2008 season,[2] he was one of only two defensive coaches retained by the Packers. It was then officially announced by the Packers that he was promoted from defensive quality control to cornerbacks coach on February 3, 2009. In the 2009 season, the Packers went 11-5 and made the NFC Wild Card.[3] They would go on to lose to the Arizona Cardinals 45–51 in overtime.[4] Under his coaching, Charles Woodson made the Pro Bowl, named 1st-team All-Pro, and was named the 2009 NFL Defensive Player of the Year as well as 2-time NFC Defensive Player of the Week and 3-time NFC Defensive Player of the Month.[5][6][7]

In the 2010 off-season, the Packers signed cornerback Sam Shields as an undrafted free agent.[8] The Packers would go 10-6 and make the NFC Wild Card again in 2010, making the playoffs for the second year in a row.[9] They would go on to beat Michael Vick's Philadelphia Eagles, Matt Ryan's Atlanta Falcons, division rival Chicago Bears, and make the Super Bowl. They would beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 31–25 to win the franchise's fourth Lombardi Trophy and the second time in NFL history a sixth seed won it all.[10] Under his coaching, Charles Woodson made the Pro Bowl and was named 2nd-team All-Pro.[11] Cornerback Tramon Williams was later added as a reserve to the Pro Bowl.[12]

In the 2011 off-season, the Packers selected cornerback Davon House in the fourth round (131st overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft.[13] The Packers went a franchise-best 15–1 in 2011, the fifth team in NFL history to due so, the last time was the 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers, winning the NFC North for the first time since 2007 and making the playoffs for the third year in a row.[14] They would lose in the opening round 20–37 to the New York Giants.[15] Under his coaching, Charles Woodson was named a Pro Bowler & 1st-team All-Pro.[16][17]

In the 2012 off-season, the Packers selected cornerback Casey Hayward in the second round (62nd overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft.[18] The Packers would go 11–5 in 2012 and win the NFC North in back-to-back years for the first time since 2002–03.[19] They would lose to the San Francisco 49ers 31–45 in the divisional round.[20]

During the 2013 season, the Packers went 8-7-1 and won the NFC North for the third straight year for the first time since 2002–04.[21] They would lose to the San Francisco 49ers in the opening round.[22]

During the 2014 season, the Packers went 12-4 and won the NFC North for the fourth straight year for the first time in franchise history.[23] They made the playoffs for the sixth year in a row, tying a franchise record set between 1993 and 1998. They would lose to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game.[24] Under his coaching, Sam Shields made the Pro Bowl.[25]

In the 2015 off-season the Packers would let corners Davon House and Tramon Williams leave in free agency, so they drafted corners Damarious Randall (1st round, 30th pick) and Quinten Rollins (2nd round, 62nd pick) in the 2015 NFL Draft.[26][27] They would go 10–6 in 2015 and make the NFC Wild Card, clinching the playoffs for a franchise record seven straight times.[28] They would lose to the Arizona Cardinals in the divisional round.[29]

In 2016, the Packers went 10-6 and won the franchise's 9th NFC North title, making their 32nd playoff appearance. They would lose to the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship game.[30]

In 2017, the Packers went 7–9, the first time out of the playoffs and a losing season since 2008.[31]

After spending 2018 as the Packers defensive passing game coordinator, they would miss the playoffs and head coach Mike McCarthy was fired. He would be dismissed on January 11, 2019.[32]

Cleveland Browns

On January 16, 2019, Whitt was hired by the Cleveland Browns.[33] Serving as secondary coach and pass game coordinator, Whitt helped the Browns finish seventh in the league in pass defense.[34]

Atlanta Falcons

On January 9, 2020, the Atlanta Falcons hired Whitt as secondary coach.[34]

Dallas Cowboys

On January 13, 2021, the Dallas Cowboys hired Whitt as secondary coach and passing game coordinator, reuniting him with head coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

Personal life

Joe Whitt Jr. is the son of Joe Whitt Sr., a linebackers coach at Auburn University.[1][35]

References

  1. 1 2 Green Bay Packers, Joe Whitt Jr. Archived July 27, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, retrieved July 27, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Packers fire 6 coaches, including D-coordinator". ESPN.com. January 5, 2009.
  3. ↑ "Packers pick off four Hasselbeck passes to earn spot in playoffs". ESPN.com. December 27, 2009.
  4. ↑ Crouse, Karen (January 10, 2010). "Cardinals' Defense Ends Shootout With Packers in Overtime". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  5. ↑ Hudson, Ryan (December 29, 2009). "2010 NFC Pro Bowl Roster". SBNation.com.
  6. ↑ Parr, Dan (January 19, 2010). "Manning, Woodson lead PFW/PFWA All-NFL team". www.profootballweekly.com. Archived from the original on January 27, 2010.
  7. ↑ Spofford, Mike (January 12, 2010). "Award Continues Woodson's Green Bay Journey". Archived from the original on January 15, 2010.
  8. ↑ Demovsky, Rob (April 24, 2010). "Packers begin signing undrafted free agents". Green Bay Press Gazette. Green Bay Press Gazette. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Defense, Aaron Rodgers' late TD lead Packers into playoffs". ESPN.com. January 2, 2011.
  10. ↑ Kruse, Zach (February 14, 2011). "Green Bay Packers: Reliving the Super Bowl Champions' 2010-2011 Season". Bleacher Report.
  11. ↑ Yuille, Sean (February 6, 2011). "Charles Woodson Adds Super Bowl Title To List Of Accomplishments". SB Nation Detroit.
  12. ↑ Cariello, Dave (January 26, 2011). "2011 NFL Pro Bowl: Complete NFC Roster". Canal Street Chronicles.
  13. ↑ Flynt, Jeff (April 30, 2011). "Green Bay Packers Draft NMSU CB House, Make Trade in 4th Round". WTAQ. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Rodgers' last-minute drive holds off Giants as Packers (12-0) clinch North title". ESPN.com. December 4, 2011.
  15. ↑ Smith, Zach (January 15, 2012). "Why the 2011 Green Bay Packers Are the Most Disappointing Playoff Team Ever". Bleacher Report.
  16. ↑ "2012 Pro Bowl rosters". NFL.com. December 27, 2011.
  17. ↑ Rudnansky, Ryan (January 6, 2012). "NFL All-Pro Roster 2011: AP Releases League's Top Squad for 2011". Bleacher Report.
  18. ↑ Oates, Russ (April 27, 2012). "2012 NFL Draft Results: Vanderbilt CB Casey Hayward Selected By Green Bay Packers With 62nd Pick". sbnation.com.
  19. ↑ "Green Bay Packers clinch NFC North with win over Chicago Bears". NFL.com. December 16, 2012.
  20. ↑ Mihoces, Gary (January 12, 2013). "Colin Kaepernick, 49ers thrash Packers 45-31". USA TODAY.
  21. ↑ Rosenthal, Gregg (December 29, 2013). "Green Bay Packers win NFC North after late touchdown". NFL.com.
  22. ↑ Fine, Larry (January 6, 2014). "49ers beat Packers in frigid wild card playoff". Reuters.
  23. ↑ Hanzus, Dan (December 28, 2014). "Packers clinch NFC North, bye with win over Lions". NFL.com.
  24. ↑ Gray, Jeff (January 18, 2015). "Seahawks rally for NFC Championship win". SBNation.com.
  25. ↑ Keeney, Tim (January 19, 2015). "Randall Cobb, Sam Shields Replace Dez Bryant, Darrelle Revis in 2015 Pro Bowl". Bleacher Report.
  26. ↑ James Brady, James (April 30, 2015). "NFL Draft Picks 2015: Damarious Randall taken by Packers at No. 30". sbnation.com.
  27. ↑ "Quinten Rollins NFL Draft 2015: Scouting Report, Grade for Packers' Rookie". Bleacher Report. May 1, 2015.
  28. ↑ "Packers beat Raiders 30-20 after clinching playoff spot". USA TODAY. December 21, 2015.
  29. ↑ Orr, Conor (January 16, 2016). "Cardinals survive Packers' Hail Mary in wild OT win". NFL.com.
  30. ↑ Stites, Adam (January 22, 2017). "High-flying Falcons offense dominates NFC title game". SBNation.com.
  31. ↑ "With playoff streak over, Green Bay Packers in unfamiliar territory". FOX Sports. December 19, 2017.
  32. ↑ Silverstein, Tom (January 11, 2019). "Packers dismiss defensive pass game coordinator Joe Whitt Jr". Packers News.
  33. ↑ Edwards, Josh (January 16, 2019). "Report: Browns hiring ex-Packers coach Joe Whitt Jr". theOBR.com.
  34. 1 2 McFadden, Will (January 9, 2020). "Report: Falcons add Joe Whitt Jr. to defensive staff". Atlanta Falcons. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  35. ↑ Auburn University, Joe Whitt Archived August 17, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, retrieved July 27, 2014.
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