Aaron Whitecotton joins Brian Schottenheimer's inaugural staff in Dallas as the defensive line coach, a role he previously held for four seasons with the New York Jets.
While with the Jets from 2021-24, Whitecotton developed several defensive linemen into premier pass rushers, including Will McDonald (10.5 sacks in 2024), Quinnen Williams (29.5 sacks from 2021-24) and Bryce Huff (10.0 sacks in 2023).
In 2024 Whitecotton helped McDonald, who was in his second NFL season, lead the Jets and tie for 12th in the NFL with 10.5 sacks. He became one-of-nine players since 2019 to register 10.0-plus sacks in a season in either his first or second year.
The 2023 season saw Whitecotton play an integral part of the Jets finishing third overall in total defense, allowing 292.3 yards-per-game following a fourth overall finish in 2022 (311.1). Under his leadership, the Jets defensive line finished 2023 with 48.0 sacks, tied for the third-most in a single season in franchise history and tied for seventh in the NFL that year.
Whitecotton helped Williams receive first-team All-Pro (2022) and Pro Bowl honors (2022-23). In 2023 under Whitecotton, Williams recorded career-highs in tackles, tackles for loss and pressures.
During the 2022 season, Whitecotton oversaw a defensive line that recorded 45 sacks on the year, the seventh-most in the NFL and a significant improvement from its 33 team sacks in 2021. The 45 sacks marked
the most by a Jets team since 2014 and tied for the fifth-most in a season in a franchise history.
Prior to joining the Jets, Whitecotton worked as the assistant defensive line coach with the San Francisco 49ers in 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.
Before his lone season in San Francisco, Whitecotton spent three seasons with Buffalo (2017-19), the last two as the assistant defensive line coach. From 2018-19, the Bills defense allowed just 296.2 yards-per-game, lowest in the NFL over that two-year span.
Whitecotton entered the NFL in 2013 with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He spent three seasons (2013-15) as a defensive assistant working primarily with the defensive line. He was promoted to assistant defensive line coach in 2016, when the Jaguars defense ranked sixth in total defense while a league-high five different defensive linemen each registered at least six tackles for loss.
Beginning his coaching career at his alma mater, Myers Park, N.C., High School, Whitecotton served as the defensive coordinator, linebackers and defensive line coach in his seven years (2005-11) at the school, before moving to the college ranks for one year 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 in political science.
He and his wife, Heather, have four children, two daughters, Lila James and Lorelei Tyler, and two sons, Jax and Jet.
