
Tony Oden
Senior Defensive Assistant/Cornerbacks
College: Baldwin Wallace
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
Experience: 18 years
Biography
Tony Oden begins his first season with the New York Jets after joining Robert Saleh's staff as the senior defensive assistant / cornerbacks coach on February 11, 2021. A coach in the NFL since 2004, Oden had previously worked with defensive backs for seven different franchises.
Prior to his start with the Jets, Oden spent a season as the defensive backs/cornerbacks coach in San Francisco (2020). Despite using seven different starters at corner, the 49ers finished fourth in passing defense while also ranking in the top 10 in both completion percentage and passer rating allowed.
In Miami (2018-19), Oden helped a pair of young players in Xavien Howard and Minkah Fitzpatrick. In 2018, as the defensive backs coach, Howard registered seven interceptions to tie for the league lead, earning his first Pro Bowl appearance. Additionally, Fitzpatrick finished in the top five among all rookie safeties in tackles, interceptions and passes defensed.
Oden spent four seasons in Detroit (2014-17) as the defensive backs/cornerbacks coach and helped the Lions finished with 58 interceptions, the ninth-most of that span. Under Oden, cornerback Darius Slay earned his first Pro Bowl selection (2017) after finishing the season with eight interceptions, tied for the most in the league. Additionally, Slay posted 69 passes defensed, the most in the league over that span while also finishing in the top five with 14 interceptions.
Before Detroit, Oden spent a season in Tampa Bay (2013) as the secondary/cornerbacks as the Buccaneers defense finished third in the league with 21 interceptions. Cornerback Darrelle Revis was selected to the Pro Bowl in his only season with the team after finishing with a team-high 11 passes defensed, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a sack.
As the secondary coach in Jacksonville (2012), Oden helped cornerback Derek Cox tie a career high with four interceptions, while safety Dawan Landry finished with 100 tackles - one of just eight DBs with at least 100 tackles that season.
A member of the New Orleans staff for six seasons (2006-11), Oden was the assistant secondary coach for five years before becoming the secondary coach in 2011. In his time with the Saints, the team won Super Bowl XLIV, finishing the 2010 with the fourth best passing defense in the league. In that span, safety Roman Harper earned the only two Pro Bowl selections of his 11-year career.
Beginning his NFL career in Houston, Oden served as a defensive assistant and assistant defensive backs coach (2004-05). His first season, the Texans registered 22 interceptions, fifth in the league and still the most in franchise history.
Before coaching in the NFL, Oden served as defensive backs coach at Eastern Michigan University (2003), after spending three seasons at East Carolina University as the safeties coach (2002), secondary coach (2001) and outside linebackers coach (2000). Prior to joining East Carolina, Oden was the assistant defensive backs coach at West Point (1998-99). He began his coaching career as assistant defensive backs coach at Millersville (PA) University in 1996, followed by one season as a graduate assistant working with the wide receivers at Boston College (1997).
A four-year linebacker at Baldwin Wallace, Oden earned First-Team Ohio Athletic Conference honors twice and was a 1994 Division III All-American.
Oden and his wife, Amanda, have a son, Jaylen, and a daughter, Ryan.
FLIGHT PATH
New York Jets | 2021-Present
Senior Defensive Assistant / Cornerbacks - 2021-Present
San Francisco 49ers | 2020
Defensive Backs/Cornerbacks - 2020
Miami Dolphins | 2018-19
Safeties - 2019
Defensive Backs - 2018
Detroit Lions | 2014-17
Defensive Backs/Cornerbacks - 2014-17
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2013
Secondary/Cornerbacks - 2013
Jacksonville Jaguars | 2012
Secondary - 2012
New Orleans Saints | 2006-11
Secondary - 2011
Assistant Secondary - 2006-10
Houston Texans | 2004-05
Defensive Assistant/Assistant Defensive Backs - 2004-05
Eastern Michigan | 2003
Defensive Backs - 2003
East Carolina | 2000-02
Safeties - 2002
Secondary - 2001
Outside Linebackers - 2000
Army | 1998-99
Assistant Defensive Backs - 1998-99
Boston College | 1997
Graduate Assistant - 1997
Millersville | 1996
Assistant Defensive Backs - 1996
PLAYING CAREER
Baldwin Wallace (Linebacker) 1992-95