KEVIN O'DEA returns to the New York Jets as a special teams assistant on Aaron Glenn's staff. He served as a special teams coach for New York for two seasons (2008-09), reaching the AFC title game in 2009.

Entering his 25th 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 23 touchdown returns (12 punt returns and 11 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. Punter Thomas Morstead led the League with a 43.2 net average, and produced a 46.4 gross average, good for seventh in the NFL.

In 2017, New Orleans special teams unit improved drastically in several areas. The Saints climbed 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 kick 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. Additionally, the Buccaneers averaged a robust 9.9 yards per punt return, the ninth-best mark in the NFL, while punt returner Bobby Rainey owned the League's seventh best mark (9.9 yards). 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. In addition, punter Michael Koenen recorded touchbacks on only two of his 79 punts, tied for the fewest among qualified punters (min. 32 punts). Another factor in Tampa Bay's punt coverage was wide receiver Russell Shepard, whose 14 solo special teams tackles tied for the League lead. O'Dea also oversaw the development of rookie kicker Patrick Murray, who ended the season making his final 13 field goals, the longest active streak in the NFL and the fourth-longest in Buccaneers history. Murray also proved to be a weapon from long distance, connecting on five field goals of 50-or[1]more yards, tied for the second-most in a season in team history and tied for the fourth-most in the NFL in 2014. His 83.3% conversion rate (5-of-6) from 50 or more yards was the highest among 15 kickers with at least four attempts. The Bucs also posted the top field goal block unit in the NFL, holding opponents to a 74% conversion rate (29-of-39), while blocking one field goal.

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. In 2011, Chicago ranked third in the NFL in overall special teams rankings according to the Dallas Morning News ranking system compiled by Rick Gosselin, after finishing first overall in their first two seasons together (2006-07). He helped kicker Robbie Gould finish with the third-highest field goal percentage in team history (.875) after Gould earned Pro Bowl honors following the 2006 season in which he set a franchise record with 32 made field goals. In 2011, Gould also set the franchise mark with six field goals made from 50 or more yards, including a franchise-best 57-yard effort. In 2006, Gould established a then-team-best .889 field goal percentage (32-of-36). The next year, Gould had 31 field goals made, tied for the second most in team history.

O'Dea also helped wide receiver/return specialist Devin Hester become one of the top returners in the NFL, earning Pro Bowl and AP First-Team All-Pro berths 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