Nathaniel "Nat" Willingham enters his fifth season with the New York Jets, and second as the assistant linebackers coach, after spending his first two seasons as a defensive assistant (2022-23), and one year as defensive backs/nickels coach (2024).

In his first season as assistant linebackers coach (2025), Willingham helped linebacker Jamien Sherwood become just the second Jet this century to register consecutive 150+ tackle seasons. Sherwood finished the year with a team-high 154 tackles–the sixth most in the league–becoming one of only two players to finish back-to-back seasons ranked in the top 10.

Over his first three seasons with the Jets (2022-24), Willingham was part of a staff that helped the defense finish top five in total defense each season, including fourth in 2022, and third in both 2023 and 2024. As the defensive backs/nickels coach (2024), the defense held opponents to 192.6 passing yards per game, the fourth-best passing defense in the league.

Prior to joining the Jets, Willingham spent three seasons with the Denver Broncos (2019-21) as a defensive quality control coach. During his time in Denver, the Broncos became the first team since 1995 to lead the league in red zone defense in consecutive seasons (2019-20).

Before his start in the NFL, Willingham spent five seasons at the collegiate level, including four years at Stanford as a football quality control analyst ( 2018), defensive assistant (2016-17), and recruiting assistant (2015). Stanford posted a 40-14 record and won the Rose Bowl (2015) during Willingham's tenure with the school. He started his collegiate coaching career at Menlo College (2014) as the tight ends coach before the school eliminated the football program.

A former prep center and defensive tackle at Skyline (Sammamish, WA), Willingham began his coaching career at his high school alma mater in a variety of roles, ultimately serving as the defensive line coach (2011-12). In his three seasons coaching the varsity level, the school won a pair of state championships and posted a 37-5 record.

Willingham and his wife, Rachel, have two sons, Auggie and Emory. His father, Tyrone, a coach for over 30 years, was the head coach at Stanford (1995-2001), Notre Dame (2002-04), and the University of Washington (2005-08).

FLIGHT PATH

New York Jets | 2022-Present

Defensive Backs/Nickelbacks - 2024

Defensive Assistant - 2022-23

Denver Broncos | 2019-21

Defensive Quality Control - 2019-21

Stanford University | 2015-18

Football Quality Control Analyst - 2018

Defensive Assistant - 2016-17

Recruiting Assistant - 2015

Menlo College | 2014

Tight Ends - 2014

Skyline (WA) HS | 2008-12

Defensive Line - 2011-12

Assistant Linebackers - 2010

Defensive Line/Offensive Line (J.V.) - 2008-09