AARON WHITECOTTON returns for his fourth season as the defensive line coach, after initially joining the New York Jets as part of Robert Saleh's first staff in 2021. Whitecotton is now in his 12th season as an NFL coach and fourth as a position coach.

This past season (2023), Whitecotton helped coach a group who finished third overall in total defense, allowing 292.3 yards per game, following a fourth overall finish in 2022 (311.1 yards per game). Under his leadership, the Jets defensive line finished the season with 48.0 sacks, tied for the third-most in a single season in franchise history and tied for the seventh-most in the NFL in 2023. Additionally, Whitecotton oversaw a defensive line who ranked fifth in the League with a 9.2% sack rate per attempt.

Additionally, Whitecotton helped former first round draft selection Quinnen Williams receive First Team All-Pro (2022) and Pro Bowl (2022-23) honors over the past two seasons. In 2023, Williams recorded new career highs in tackles, run tackles for loss, quarterback pressures, as well as his first interception. Williams was also top five among all interior defensive lineman in tackles, run tackles for loss and pressures. Additionally, Whitecotton helped former first round draft selection Jermaine Johnson reach his first Pro Bowl in 2023 after improving in nearly every defensive category from his rookie season. Johnson also logged a 37-yard interception return for a touchdown, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on the season.

In 2022, Whitecotton oversaw a defensive line that recorded 45.0 sacks on the year, the seventh-most in the NFL and a significant improvement from their 33.0 total in 2021. The 45.0 sacks marked the most by a Jets team since 2014 and is tied for the fourth-most in a season in a franchise history. Whitecotton saw 14 different players record at least a 0.5 sack in 2022, tied for the ninth-most in the NFL, including 5.0 recorded by rookies, tied for the eighth-most in the League.

Former first round draft selection Quinnen Williams received First Team All-Pro and Team MVP honors, in addition to being selected to the 2022 Pro Bowl. Whitecotton helped Williams record a single-season best 12.0 sacks in 2022, tied for the seventh most sacks in a season by a Jet in franchise history. Furthermore, his 98.5 sack yards on the season were tied for the most by a Jet since 2000.

In his first season with the Jets, Whitecotton oversaw a deep defensive line group as seven different linemen registered 15+ quarterback pressures, one of nine teams in the league to do so. Among those seven, four registered single-season highs in pressures, including John Franklin-Myers whose 43 pressures were the most by a Jet since 2015. Franklin-Myers, who earned a contract extension during the season, was also one of 11 players in 2021 with multiple games of seven+ QB pressures.

Against the run, all three of the Jets interior defenders with 500+ snaps – Folorunso Fatukasi, Sheldon Rankins and Quinnen Williams – finished in the top 10 league-wide in stuff percentage (defined as tackles

made on run plays resulting in no gain or loss). Williams was selected as a Pro Bowl alternate as one of just two players in the league in the top 10 in stop, stuff and sack percentage.

Prior to joining the Jets, Whitecotton worked as the assistant defensive line coach in San Francisco (2020). Despite losing two opening day starters in Week Two, Nick Bosa, the reigning defensive rookie of the year, and Solomon Thomas, the 49ers defense finished fifth in total defense and seventh in rushing defense. Defensive lineman Kerry Hyder started 14 games after logging more than 450 snaps in a season just once in his five previous years in the league as he become one of just 11 defensive linemen with at least 8.0 sacks, 15 quarterback hits and 40 total tackles.

Before his season in San Francisco, Whitecotton spent three seasons with Buffalo, the last two as the assistant defensive line coach. The Bills defense finished second in the league in 2018 and third in 2019 in total defense, combining to allow just 296.2 yards per game, the lowest in the league over that span. From 2018-19, six different defensive linemen totaled at least 5.0+ sacks, five different d-linemen registered 10+ quarterback hits and four recorded 10+ tackles for loss.

Entering the NFL with Jacksonville in 2013, Whitecotton spent three seasons (2013-15) as a defensive assistant working with the defensive line, before serving as an assistant defensive line coach with the Jaguars in 2016. That season, the defense ranked sixth in total defense while a league-high five different defensive linemen each registered six+ tackles for loss. Additionally, rookie defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, a third-round pick, recorded 8.0 sacks (ranked second among all rookies) and four forced fumbles (ranked first).

Beginning his coaching career at his alma mater, Myers Park (NC) HS, Whitecotton served as the defensive coordinator, linebackers and defensive line coach throughout his time at the school (2005-11), before coaching a season as a defensive assistant at New Mexico State (2012).

Whitecotton played center at South Carolina from 2000-01 before transferring to UNC Charlotte, where he earned his undergraduate degree. He and his wife, Heather, have four children, two daughters, Lila James and Lorelei Tyler, and two sons, Jax and Jet.

FLIGHT PATH

New York Jets | 2021-Present

Defensive Line - 2021-Present

San Francisco | 49ers 2020

Assistant Defensive Line - 2020

Buffalo Bills | 2017-19

Assistant Defensive Line - 2018-19

Administrative Assistant to the Head Coach - 2017

Jacksonville Jaguars | 2013-16

Assistant Defensive Line - 2016

Defensive Assistant - 2013-15

New Mexico State | 2012

Defensive Assistant - 2012

Myers Park (NC) High School | 2005-11

Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers/Defensive Line - 2005-11

PLAYING CAREER

South Carolina (Center) - 2000-01