Jets Rumors: Commanders DC Joe Whitt Jr. Requested for HC Interview Amid Playoff Run

The New York Jets requested to interview defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. as part of their coaching search, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Whitt is in his first year as Washington's defensive coordinator. During the regular season, the Commanders ranked 13th in total defense (327.9 yards) and 18th in opponent scoring (23.0 points).

Both of those numbers are significant improvements from 2023, when Washington was last in both yards and points allowed.

The Washington Post's Nicki Jhabvala profiled Whitt in November and detailed how he helped to make such an immediate impact on the defense.

The 46-year-old not only understands the game on a schematic level but also knows how to communicate his ideas to the players.

"The thing that's made it such a smooth transition is the way the coaches have simplified the game for me," rookie cornerback Mike Sainristil said to Jhabvala. "They do a great job of teaching me not just the playbook but what I'm looking at when I'm on the field, what formations I'm getting, what types of concepts I can expect out of certain formations."

Veteran edge-rusher Dante Fowler Jr. added that Whitt is "just going to throw it out" if there's a certain idea he wants to implement but can't get the players to fully understand.

When hiring a new head coach, teams often target the opposite of what they had with their last coach.

Robert Saleh specialized in defense and was a defensive coordinator for four seasons before he joined New York in 2021. It stands to reason the Jets would prefer somebody with an offensive pedigree, especially when considering the fact they could have a new starting quarterback in 2025.

Whitt is also an unknown quantity for a lot of fans since this is the first time he has interviewed for a head coaching gig.

But the Commanders' defensive turnaround makes him a compelling candidate.