ALONSO ESCALANTE begins his first season with the Jets after joining Aaron Glenn's staff as the defensive assistant/nickels coach, bringing eight seasons of prior NFL experience.

Escalante most recently served in the NFL as a coaching assistant with the Carolina Panthers (2021). He has an extensive history working with defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, including as a defensive quality control coach in Arizona (2018) and Cleveland (2019) and as an analyst at Missouri (2021) for a brief time before joining the staff in Carolina.

In Cleveland (2019), Escalante helped the Browns defense improve from 25th to seventh in passing defense, allowing 216.9 passing yards per game and finishing the year with 14 interceptions, tied for the eighth-most in the NFL.

Prior to Cleveland, Escalante served as a defensive quality control coach in Arizona (2018) and worked with the team's nickelbacks, while assisting with other defensive duties. With Escalante's guidance, the Cardinals finished the season with a top 10 passing defense in the League and registered 49.0 sacks, tied for the fifth-most in the NFL.

Before arriving in Arizona, Escalante spent two years (2016-17) with the New York Giants as an offensive assistant, working with the team's wide receivers. He helped wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. record a career-high 101 receptions and 1,367 receiving yards in 2016, both good for third-most in the NFL, in addition to 10 receiving touchdowns, the fifth-most in the League. He also served as a defensive assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a pair of seasons (2012-13).

In 2009, Escalante earned his start in the League as a part of the NFL's minority coaching fellowship during training camp with the New York Giants and worked as a defensive coaching intern with the Oakland Raiders in 2011.

Prior to his NFL career, Escalante coached at his high school, Glen Rock (NJ), in 2014 and at Fair Lawn (NJ), in 2015. Most recently, he served as the head coach of Tenafly (NJ) High School (2023-24), located just 14 miles from his high school alma mater.

Escalante also worked at the collegiate level as the inside linebackers and defensive backs coach at McDaniel College (2009-10), beginning his coaching career as a student assistant at his alma mater, Springfield College (2006-09). He graduated from Springfield College in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in movement and sports studies and received his master's degree in exercise science and physical education from McDaniel College in 2011.

A native of Glen Rock, N.J., Glen Rock High School renamed their Special Teams Player of the Year award to the "Escalante Special Teams Award" in honor of his efforts and dedication.

Escalante and his wife, Jennifer, have two daughters.

FLIGHT PATH

New York Jets 2025-Present

Defensive Assistant/Nickels 2025-Present

Tenafly (NJ) High School 2023-24

Head Coach 2022-24

DePaul Catholic (NJ) High School 2022

Assistant Coach 2022

Carolina Panthers 2021

Coaching Assistant 2021

Cleveland Browns 2019

Defensive Quality Control 2019

Arizona Cardinals 2018

Defensive Quality Control 2018

New York Giants 2016-17

Offensive Assistant 2016-17

Fair Lawn (NJ) High School 2015

Assistant Coach 2015

Glen Rock (NJ) High School 2014

Assistant Coach 2014

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2012-13

Defensive Assistant 2012-13

Las Vegas Raiders 2011

Defensive Coaching Intern 2011

McDaniel College 2009-10

Inside Linebackers, Defensive Backs 2009-10

Springfield College 2006-09

Head Student Assistant 2006-09