SHAWN JEFFERSON returns for his second stint with the New York Jets after serving as the assistant head coach/wide receivers coach from 2019-20. 2025 marks Jefferson's 21st season as a coach in the NFL, following a 13-year playing career.

Jefferson returns to the Jets after one season with Carolina (2023) and two seasons with Arizona (2021-22). With the Panthers in 2023, Jefferson coached a group led by veteran Adam Thielen, who recorded his third 1,000+ receiving yard season (first since 2018), and his second 100+ reception season. With the Cardinals in 2021, four players recorded 40+ receptions, 500+ receiving yards and three+ touchdowns, followed by five players recording 20+ receptions and multiple touchdowns in 2022.

In his first stint with the Jets (2019-20), Jefferson oversaw a group led by Robby Anderson and Jamison Crowder, as the duo was one of just seven League-wide to each post 50+ receptions, 700+ yards and five+ touchdowns during the 2019 season. Anderson averaged 15.0 yards per catch, one of just 20 receivers in the NFL to do so, while Crowder posted a new single season best in reception (78), leading the team with six touchdown receptions. Additionally, Vyncint Smith, added by the Jets from the HST practice squad in-season, became one of just nine wide receivers in the League with at least three receptions of 20+ yards and at least 117 runs of 10+ yards. The following season (2020), Crowder fell one yard short of recording consecutive seasons with 50+ receptions, 700+ yards, and five+ touchdowns, while the offense saw four players record 30+ receptions, 250+ yards, and three+ touchdowns.

Prior to joining the Jets, Jefferson's three seasons in Miami saw Dolphins wide receivers average 4.9 yards after catch, the fifth-best average in the League, and account for 52 touchdowns, tied for sixth most. Additionally, Miami wide receivers accounted for 70.8% of the team's receptions, the second-highest percentage in the league during that span.

In two seasons with Jefferson, wide receiver Jarvis Landry made two Pro Bowl appearances, pulling in 206 total receptions, the third-most of any player in the league, while wide receiver Kenny Stills posted 21 touchdowns in his three seasons under Jefferson, the ninth-most in the league.

Jefferson spent three seasons (2013-15) with the Titans as wide receiver Kendall Wright finished seventh in the league with 94 receptions in posting his first 1,000-yard season in just his second season (2013). Wide receivers Nate Washington (2013-14) and Justin Hunter (2013-14) each averaged at least 16.0 yards per catch during Jefferson's time in Tennessee.

Prior to Tennessee, Jefferson spent eight seasons on the Lions staff, beginning as a coaching assistant in 2005 and moving up to wide receivers coach where he served from 2008-12. During his time in Detroit, he helped wide receiver Calvin Johnson set an NFL single-season record with 1,964 yards receiving (2012). Johnson was selected for the Pro Bowl three times and led the NFL in receiving yardage twice, finishing

with season averages of 88 receptions for 1,416 yards (16.1 average) and 10 touchdowns in five years with Jefferson as his position coach.

Jefferson began his coaching career shortly after a 13-season playing career during which the former Charger (1991-95), Patriot (1996-99), Falcon (2000-02) and Lion (2003) wide receiver caught 470 passes for 7,024 yards and 29 touchdowns after entering the league as a ninth-round selection in 1991.

Before entering the League, the Jacksonville, FL native played receiver for three years at Central Florida. He and his wife, Marla, have two daughters, Paige and Faith, and a son, Van, a former standout receiver at the University of Florida who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

FLIGHT PATH

New York Jets | 2024-Present

Wide Receivers - 2024-Present

Carolina Panthers | 2023

Wide Receivers - 2023

Arizona Cardinals | 2021-2022

Assistant Head Coach / Wide Receivers - 2022

Wide Receivers - 2021

New York Jets | 2019-20

Assistant Head Coach / Wide Receivers - 2019-20

Miami Dolphins | 2016-18

Wide Receivers - 2016-18

Tennessee Titans | 2013-15

Wide Receivers - 2013-15

Detroit Lions | 2006-12

Wide Receivers - 2008-12

Assistant Wide Receivers - 2007

Offensive Assistant - 2006

PLAYING CAREER

Detroit Lions (Wide Receiver) - 2003

Atlanta Falcons (Wide Receiver) - 2000-02

New England Patriots (Wide Receiver) - 1996-99

San Diego Chargers (Wide Receiver) - 1991-95

UCF (Wide Receiver) - 1988-90