MARQUAND MANUEL returns for his fourth season as the defensive backs/safeties coach, after initially joining the New York Jets as part of Robert Saleh's first staff in 2021. Manuel has been in the NFL for 20 seasons as both a player and coach, earning trips to the Super Bowl as both.

This past season (2023), Manuel led a group of safeties who recorded 10 of 17 team interceptions with Jordan Whitehead recording four, Tony Adams three, and Ashtyn Davis three. Those 10 interceptions by safeties trailed only Baltimore (12) this past season and marked the ninth time since 2000 that the Jets have had three players record at least three interceptions each.

During his time with the Jets, Manuel has helped Whitehead become one of five at his position to record 150+ tackles, five+ tackles for loss, five+ interceptions, and 15+ passes defensed over the past two seasons (2022-23). Additionally, Manuel helped Whitehead register a single-season best four interceptions (2023), becoming the first Jets safety with four+ interceptions since 2007.

Under Manuel's lead, safety Lamarcus Joyner finished the 2022 season with three interceptions, the most by a Jets safety since 2013 and just the fifth Jets safety since 2000 with at least three interceptions in a season. Manuel helped Joyner become the fifth safety in the NFL since 2000 to record a two+ interception game, after doing so at Pittsburgh (10/2).

Manuel also contributed to the success of undrafted rookie (2022) Adams, who ranked top 10 in the NFL among all rookie safeties in time to tackle (5th - 5.27), tackle percentage (6th -12.8%) and stops (7th – 5) during the 2022 season.

In his first season with the Jets (2021), Manuel dealt with constantly changing personnel as 10 different safeties appeared on defense for the Jets in 2021, while eight started at least one game. Kickoff Weekend starters, Marcus Maye and Joyner, were limited to 360 total snaps as Joyner was placed on injured reserve in Week Two and Maye in Week 10.

Despite the constant rotation, former 2020 draft choice, Ashtyn Davis was one of just 11 players in 2021 with 50+ tackles, two+ interceptions and two+ forced fumbles after tying for the team lead in both INTs (two) and FFs (three). Additionally, Jason Pinnock, selected in the sixth round that season after a college career at cornerback, made the transition to safety as a rookie and finished the final three weeks as the number one rookie rated safety by Pro Football Focus.

Prior to joining the Jets, Manuel served as the defensive backs coach with Philadelphia (2020), before four seasons in Atlanta, first as the secondary coach/senior defensive assistant (2015-16), Manuel was later promoted to defensive coordinator (2017-18). In his first season as coordinator (2017), the defense ranked in the top 10 in scoring defense (eighth), total defense (ninth), rushing defense (ninth), and red zone defense (fifth). Additionally, a pair of second year players, linebacker Deion Jones and safety Keanu Neal, each were selected for their first Pro Bowl.

Manuel's first NFL position came in Seattle as a special team assistant (2012), before serving as defensive assistant (2013) and assistant secondary coach (2014). In his three seasons with the Seahawks, the team advanced to two Super Bowls, earning a victory in Super Bowl XLVIII, while the defense allowed the fewest passing yards per game in 2014.

An eight-year NFL veteran after initially entering the league as a sixth-round pick (2002), Manuel played with six teams – Cincinnati, Seattle, Green Bay, Carolina, Denver and Detroit – and appeared in 116 games (57 starts). He started 35 of 46 games at Florida, finishing his college career with 308 tackles and six interceptions, before graduating with a degree in criminology and law.

Manuel has two children, daughter, Madison, and son, Marquand II.

FLIGHT PATH

New York Jets | 2021-Present

Defensive Backs/Safeties - 2021-Present

Philadelphia Eagles | 2020

Defensive Backs - 2020

Atlanta Falcons | 2015-18

Defensive Coordinator - 2017-18

Secondary Coach/Senior Defensive Assistant - 2015-16

Seattle Seahawks | 2012-14

Assistant Secondary - 2014

Defensive Assistant - 2013

Special Teams Assistant - 2012

PLAYING CAREER

Detroit Lions (Safety) - 2009

Denver Broncos (Safety) - 2008

Carolina Panthers (Safety) - 2007

Green Bay Packers (Safety) - 2006

Seattle Seahawks (Safety) - 2004-05

Cincinnati Bengals (Safety) - 2002-03

University of Florida (Safety) - 1997-2001