Breaking: Cowboys hiring Joe Whitt, Jr. to run secondary
There is no official link between Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy and newly installed defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. Or at least, there wasn’t one before. There is now though, in a round about way. On Wednesday morning it has been announced the Cowboys will be adding Joe Whitt, Jr. to the defensive coaching staff as the passing game coordinator.
Whitt spent several years with McCarthy in Green Bay, and was considered for the defensive coordinator’s position last offseason that eventually went to one-and-done Mike Nolan. Last season, he worked as the defensive passing game coordinator for Quinn’s Falcons. Now, the three are together again, for the first time, in Dallas, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. It’s a two-year contract for Whitt.
The #Cowboys are hiring Joe Whitt Jr. as secondary/defensive pass game coordinator, per source. A reunion with Dan Quinn and Mike McCarthy.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 13, 2021
The 42-year old former cornerback was the Packers quality control coach in 2008, then ascended to their DB coach from 2009 through 2017. He was Mccarthy’s defensive passing game coordinator in 2018 before the entire staff was let go.
He held the same title in Cleveland for one year, and then that staff was let go. In 2020 with the Falcons he stayed on after Dan Quinn was fired and Raheem Morris moved up to interim head coach.
Whitt was still under contract in Atlanta, but the Falcons – who are searching for their new coach – approved the move.
Another important hire for Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy: team landed Joe Whitt Jr. as its defensive pass game coordinator/secondary coach, source said. Two-year contract. Falcons approved move; Whitt had time left on contract. Whitt spent 11 seasons on McCarthy’s Packers staff.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) January 13, 2021
In his time as a coach, Whitt had seen several of his players make the Pro Bowl, including Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams, Sam Shields and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.
Last season under Nolan, the Cowboys had Al Harris and Mo Linguist coordinating the secondary. To this point, both remain employed by the Cowboys. Dallas has already fired defensive line coach Jim Tomsula and has yet to replace him. Quinn worked his way up the defensive hierarchy as a defensive line coach and prefers a 40-front as opposed to Tomsula’s specialty, the 3-4. The Cowboys still have assistant line coach Leon Lett under contract, and also linebackers coach Scott McCurley who also came from Green Bay with McCarthy.
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