FRISCO, Texas — Following the hiring of Dan Quinn, the Cowboys made an addition to the defensive coaching staff on Wednesday. Dallas landed Joe Whitt Jr. as their defensive passing game coordinator and secondary coach, per NFL Network.
Whitt Jr. will be reunited with Mike McCarthy and Dan Quinn. He served under Quinn in Atlanta in 2020 (secondary coach/passing game coordinator) and spent 11 seasons on McCarthy’s staff in Green Bay as the cornerbacks’ coach and passing game coordinator (2018). He was part of the Super Bowl Champion staff in 2010.
The Packers cleaned house after the 2008 season and Whitt Jr. was one of two coaches to survive the exodus. He has made an impact in the development of corners at every step of his career and has produced the most out of his DB’s, including Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams, and Sam Shields.
The 42-year-old had a lengthy interview with the Cowboys last week and evidently impressed Jerry Jones. He was an external candidate on the team’s radar with his connection to both Quinn and McCarthy. He interviewed for the defensive coordinator vacancy as well, but the position went to Quinn.
Whitt’s addition to the staff means the departure of one of the current secondary coaches. In 2020, Maurice Linguist and Al Harris were hired to coach the last line of defense as part of Mike Nolan’s staff. Harris played for the Packers during Whitt’s coaching tenure there and he could be the likely one to stay with their previous relationship/familiarity.
