KEVIN O'DEA enters fourth second season with the New York Jets, having returned to the organization to join Aaron Glenn's staff last February (2025). He previously coached the Jets special teams for two seasons (2008–09), highlighted by an AFC Championship Game appearance in 2009.

Last season (2025), O'Dea helped Special Teams Coordinator Chris Banjo guide a historic unit that posted the highest special teams Expected Points Added (EPA) in the league (62.18)—the highest EPA by a Jets unit this century and the third-highest by any team in the last 10 seasons. The Jets improved in nearly every special teams metric, finishing the season with top 10 rankings in 10 major special teams categories, including leading the league in kickoff return average (29.9), field goal percentage (96.6%), extra point percentage (100.0%), and special teams touchdowns (four).

O'Dea was instrumental in the development of first-year punter Austin McNamara, who set a new franchise record with a 43.2 net average. He also helped guide kicker Nick Folk to a near perfect season, as he missed only a 55-yard field goal in the rain to produce the highest combined rate on field goal and extra point attempts in Jets history (98.04%).

Entering his 26th NFL season, O'Dea has previously coached with the San Diego Chargers (defensive/special teams assistant 1994-95), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (offensive/defensive assistant, 1996-2001; special teams coordinator, 2014-15), Detroit Lions (special teams assistant 2002-03), Arizona Cardinals (special teams coordinator 2004-05), Chicago Bears (assistant special teams coach 2006-07; 2011-12), Kansas City Chiefs (assistant special teams coach 2013), and New Orleans Saints (assistant special teams 2016-18). During his NFL coaching career, O'Dea's special teams units have recorded a total of 26 touchdown returns (14 punt returns and 12 kickoff returns). O'Dea has also coached in the UFL (2010 Hartford Colonials Special Teams Coordinator) and in the collegiate ranks.

In his last year with the Saints (2018), O'Dea helped third-year kicker Will Lutz have one of his best seasons, finishing top 10 in the NFL in field goals made (28) and field goal percentage (93.3%), a career high.

In 2017, the New Orleans special teams unit improved drastically in several areas, climbing from 31st to sixth in kickoff return average (22.9) and from 29th to sixth in average starting field position after kickoff (25.6). Rookie Alvin Kamara finished with a 31.5 yard kickoff return average, the highest single-season average in franchise history and returned a kickoff 106-yards for a score in the season finale, the longest in team history.

Prior to his time with the Saints, O'Dea served as the special teams coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for two seasons (2014-15). In 2015, he tutored a unit that ranked fourth across the NFL in punt coverage, limiting opposing teams to only 5.2 yards per return. In 2014, O'Dea oversaw a Buccaneers special teams group that was one of the best in punt coverage in the League, allowing only 5.8 yards per return, the second-lowest mark in the NFL, while forcing 26 fair catches, the fifth most in the League.

Under O'Dea's leadership in 2013, the Kansas City Chiefs special teams unit was one of the best in the NFL, recording a league-leading four return touchdowns (two punt, two kick), including Dexter McCluster's two punt return touchdowns, the most in the NFL.

During O'Dea's stints in Chicago from 2006-07 and from 2011-12, the Bears had one of the top special teams units in the NFL, including the 2007 team that recorded six return touchdowns (four punt, two kick), the most in a single season in NFL history.

O'Dea also helped wide receiver/return specialist Devin Hester become one of the top returners in NFL history, earning Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors in 2006-07, when he recorded 12 return touchdowns (seven punt, four kick, one missed field goal), the most ever in consecutive seasons. In addition to working with Hester, O'Dea has assisted in coaching several other special teams players to Pro Bowls, including kick returner Dexter McCluster (Kansas City, 2013), special teamer Corey Graham (Chicago, 2011), running back/kick returner Leon Washington (New York Jets, 2008), special teamer Brendon Ayanbadejo (Chicago, 2006-07), kicker Robbie Gould (Chicago, 2006), kicker Neil Rackers (Arizona, 2005), kicker Martin Gramatica (Tampa Bay, 2000), punter Darren Bennett (San Diego 1995), and kicker John Carney (San Diego 1994).

Before his NFL coaching career began as an assistant with the Chargers, O'Dea spent eight years as a college assistant coach, earning his start at his alma mater of Lock Haven University where, when his playing career was cut short due to a back injury, he coached wide receivers (1986). Following his time with Lock Haven, O'Dea spent one season coaching freshman defensive backs at Cornell (1987) before working as a graduate assistant at Virginia (1989-90) and Penn State (1991), where he was promoted to assistant strength and conditioning/defensive line/linebackers coach (1992-93).

A native of Williamsport, PA, O'Dea spent four years in the United States Coast Guard (1979-83) before enrolling in Lock Haven, where he played wide receiver and defensive back, earning a bachelor's degree in fitness management. He later obtained a master's degree in education from Virginia.

O'Dea and his wife, Mary Anne, have three sons, Sean, Ryan, and Caleb.

FLIGHT PATH

New York Jets 2008-09, 2025-Present

Special Teams Assistant 2025-Present

Special Teams 2008-09

New Orleans Saints 2016-18

Assistant Special Teams 2016-18

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2014-15

Special Teams Coordinator 2014-15

Kansas City Chiefs 2013

Assistant Special Teams 2013

Chicago Bears 2011-12

Assistant Special Teams 2011-12

Harford Colonials (UFL) 2010

Special Teams Coordinator 2010

Chicago Bears 2006-07

Assistant Special Teams 2006-07

Arizona Cardinals 2004-05

Special Teams Coordinator 2004-05

Detroit Lions 2002-03

Special Teams Assistant 2002-03

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1996-01

Offensive/Defensive Assistant 1996-01

San Diego Chargers 1994-95

Defensive/Special Teams Assistant 1994-95

Penn State University 1991-93

Asst. Strength/Defensive Line/LBs 1992-93

Graduate Assistant 1991

University of Virginia 1988-90

Assistant Strength 1990

Graduate Assistant 1988-89

Cornell University 1987

Defensive Backs-Freshmen 1987

Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania 1986

Wide Receivers 1986

PLAYING CAREER

Lock Haven (WR/DB) 1984-85