Chip Vaughn returns for his second season with the New York Jets as a defensive assistant, having been retained by Head Coach Robert Saleh in 2021. For Vaughn, this is his second season coaching in the NFL following five years in college football working with defensive backs at Air Force, Fayetteville State and Winston-Salem State.

In his first season with the Jets (2020), Vaughn assisted with a young secondary as the team started rookie or second-year players at corner for the final seven games. Since Week 11, fifth-round rookie Bryce Hall started the final seven, undrafted rookie Lamar Jackson started four (six total), second-year sixth-round pick Bless Austin started three (10 total) and undrafted rookie Javelin Guidry started two. Guidry registered four forced fumbles to lead the team, tied for the most among rookies and the only player with four forced fumbles in 200 or fewer defensive snaps.

Prior to the Jets, Vaughn was part of an Air Force team that finished the 2019 season ranked in the Top 25 with two wins over Power 5 teams, including Washington State in the Cheez-It Bowl. The defense finished 17th in total defense and seventh in rush defense, while the secondary saw three players selected to All-Mountain West Conference teams, one of which earned an undrafted free agent contract with the Arizona Cardinals.

Vaughn was selected to the 2020 American Football Coaches Association 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute. A Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship coach with New Orleans during training camp in 2018, he was also one of 15 coaches selected to participate in the 2018 NFL-NCAA Coaches Academy.

A former fourth-round selection by New Orleans in 2009, Vaughn missed his rookie season, and the Saints Super Bowl run, with an injury suffered in training camp. He appeared in three games the following season with Indianapolis before going on injured reserve and retiring the following year due to injuries while with Carolina.

A four-year defensive back at Wake Forest, Vaughn was named first team All-ACC as a senior and received honorable mention as a junior. He led the Demon Deacons in tackles his junior year and finished second as a senior, finishing his college career with 258 tackles, three interceptions, 22 pass breakups, four fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, and one fumble returned for a touchdown.

A native of Goldsboro, NC, Vaughn double majored in Sociology and Religion at Wake Forest and is in the process of earning his MBA from Fayetteville State. He and his wife, Erin, have a daughter, Luna Isabella.

FLIGHT PATH

New York Jets | 2020-Present

Defensive Assistant - 2020-Present

Air Force | 2018-19

Defensive Backs Coach - 2018-19

New Orleans Saints | 2018

Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship - 2018

Fayetteville State | 2016-17

Secondary/Def. Passing Game Coordinator - 2016-17

Winston-Salem State University | 2015

Safeties & Special Teams Co-Coordinator - 2015

Furr (TX) High School | 2014

Assistant Coach - 2014

PLAYING CAREER

Carolina Panthers (Defensive Back) - 2011

Indianapolis Colts (Defensive Back) - 2010

Philadelphia Eagles (Defensive Back) - 2010

New Orleans Saints (Defensive Back) - 2009

Wake Forest (Defensive Back) - 2004-08