Shawn Jefferson, now in his third season as the wide receivers coach with the New York Jets, rejoined the team in 2024 after spending two years as the assistant head coach/wide receivers coach (2019-20). Jefferson is now in his 22nd season as a coach in the NFL following a 13-year playing career as a wide receiver.

Last season (2025), Jefferson led one of the youngest wide receiver units in football, as every wide receiver on the final roster was 25 years old or younger. On pace for a career season before his injury in Week Six, wide receiver Garrett Wilson recorded 395 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 36 receptions, all top-three ranks in the AFC at the time of his injury. Besides Wilson, none of the other top-five leading receivers were on the initial 53-man roster, including midseason trade acquisitions Adonai Mitchell and John Metchie III, who both produced single-season highs in key receiving metrics under Jefferson. Mitchell recorded 24 receptions in eight games with the Jets, surpassing his rookie mark of 23 (2023), while his 301 yards were just 11 yards shy of his career best. Metchie produced single-season highs in receptions (39), receiving yards (256), and receiving touchdowns (two) in nine games working with Jefferson.

After returning to the Jets in 2024, Jefferson guided Wilson to career highs in receptions (101) and receiving yards (1,104), marking his third consecutive 1,000+ yard season, making him the first wide receiver in franchise history, and the 10th player in NFL history, to record at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first three seasons. Wilson's 101 receptions were the second most in franchise history behind only Brandon Marshall (109). Additionally, wide receiver Davante Adams ranked ninth in the NFL in receiving touchdowns (seven), 10th in receiving yards (854), and tied for 12th in receptions (67) after being acquired via trade prior to Week Seven. On the season, Jefferson's unit was the only one in the league to produce multiple 1,000+ yard, 75+ reception, and five+ touchdown receivers (Wilson and Adams).

With Carolina in 2023, Jefferson coached a group led by veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen, who recorded his third 1,000+ receiving yard season (first since 2018), and his second 100+ reception season. With Arizona 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 Robbie Chosen (then 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. Chosen 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 receptions (78), leading the team with six touchdown receptions. 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 the catch, the fifth-best average in the League, and account for 52 touchdowns, tied for the sixth most in the NFL. 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, totaling 206 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 and posted his first 1,000-yard season in just his second year (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 (2005) and moving up to wide receivers coach (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.

A Jacksonville, FL native, Jefferson 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 Washington Commanders.

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