An Improved Jordan Whitehead Returns To The Bucs

The Bucs and strong safety Jordan Whitehead didn’t part on the best of terms following the 2021 offseason. Whitehead hit free agency in search of more money than the Bucs were willing to pay and had reserve safety Mike Edwards, a former third-round pick, entering a contract year.

Whitehead signed a two-year, $14.5 million deal with the Jets and played more coverage in New York than he did in Tampa Bay where he was used more as a safety in the box, closer to the line of scrimmage. The Bucs had been rotating Edwards in for coverage situations during the 2021 season, which frustrated Whitehead. He was especially frustrated bout not being in on a deep pass to Cooper Kupp in the Bucs’ Divisional playoff loss to the Rams in 2021.

But the two years in New York helped Whitehead become a more well-rounded safety, and he returns to Tampa Bay an improved player as a result. Whitehead signed a two-year deal with the Bucs worth $9 million with a maximum value of $10.5 million due to incentives.

“When I left, I was bummed out by not being back,” Whitehead said on Thursday at a press conference. “Anybody that’s going to start new is going to feel a certain way, but you get over that hump when you get there. What I did learn was a different scheme, a different defense, so I had to adjust. It brought out another game in me that some people didn’t know I had – or even myself. I knew it was there, but I just needed to show it.

“We sat back in a lot of Cover Four with the Jets. I was in the pass game a lot and didn’t really have any blitzes. I sat back in pass [coverage]. I was going against Aaron Rodgers every day in [training] camp and that brought another level out of me. I’d say my game elevated just from being in a pass defense, learning to read coverages, learning to read the offenses, reading the quarterback out of the middle of the field.”

With Antoine Winfield Jr. coming off an All-Pro season last year in Tampa Bay, primarily as a free safety, Whitehead is expected to continue his role as a strong safety in the box upon his return. But this time Whitehead won’t come off the field in coverage situations, and the six interceptions he had in two years with the Jets have shown Bucs head coach Todd Bowles that he can also rotate back to the deep secondary when Winfield is near the line of scrimmage to blitz.

“There was just certain stuff that I didn’t get to do as much here because I was in the box so much,” Whitehead said. “I was always labeled as a box safety, but my label now wouldn’t say that because I feel comfortable playing man-to-man, playing in the post. I wouldn’t say I prefer it, but it’s always good to sit back and get interceptions and not just be a big hitter.”

Bucs SS Jordan Whitehead – Photo by: USA Today

Whitehead earned a reputation as a physical, big hitter in the box while in Tampa Bay for four years, but has come to level the mental aspect of playing safety, too. That’s one area where he grew while he was in New York.

“I’m just two years older now, I’m smarter, wiser,” Whitehead said. “I go home and watch film with the coaches and it’s a part of my game that I love. You don’t just have to be physical, there’s a lot of mental stuff there.

“I learned how to take care of my body now more – little things like that, nutrition. It’s not always just having fun. You need to do what you’ve got to do – put the work in, do your job. That’s kind of the best thing at the end of the day.”

Jordan Whitehead Had His Best Game During Jets’ Worst Moment

If there was a game that proved Jordan Whitehead had improved in coverage it would undoubtedly be the 2023 season opener against Buffalo. Unfortunately, just moments after kickoff, starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers would be lost for the year with a torn Achilles tendon that not only shook the Jets to their core but also sent shockwaves through the NFL.

Bucs SS Jordan Whitehead – Photo by: USA Today

Yet the Jets rallied to beat the Bills, 23-16, in overtime at home in Week 1 thanks to Whitehead’s career-high three interceptions against Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen.

“That was Aaron’s first game and him coming out of the tunnel, I’ve never seen a stadium like that – it was night, the lights were on,” Whitehead recalled. “The atmosphere was crazy. Coming off Hard Knocks, there were a lot of things that were going on. Josh gave me three chances and I came down with three picks. That was my best game probably ever in the league and ever playing football. That was a staple piece for me, to be able to say, ‘If I can’t play the pass, then what is this?’

“Aaron going down was definitely hard on the rest of the season and definitely played a role in how things went. But I was playing like it was here, playing on a top-five defense. You get to meet a lot of people, you get to learn a lot of new things. You learn a lot of ball. I’m just happy to share my experiences from being at the Jets with the guys here, just to make everybody better.”

Whitehead recorded five interceptions in four seasons in Tampa Bay and had two in his first year with New York. But in his second season, he notched a career-high four, thanks to the trio of picks he recorded on opening day.

“I’ve got to thank my coach at the Jets, my safety coach Marquand Manuel,” Whitehead said. “He was just like Coach [Nick] Rapone – one of the greatest coaches I’ve had. He brought the best out of me everyday. I thank him a lot just because we sat down, we’d have long meetings and long talks [of] him showing me film and [saying], ‘This is how you do it.’ He wouldn’t let me settle and he didn’t want me to just settle. He wanted me to get the best I deserve. I appreciate him for that.”

Jordan Whitehead Looks Forward To Reuniting With Antoine Winfield Jr.

Tampa Bay’s safety tandem of Jordan Whitehead and Antoine Winfield Jr. made huge, impact plays in the 2020 postseason leading up to the team’s Super Bowl LV win.

Bucs SS Jordan Whitehead and RB Aaron Jones – Photo by: USA Today

Winfield forced a key fumble at New Orleans in the second half, punching the ball out of tight end Jared Cook’s hands and creating a turnover. A week later in the NFC Championship Game at Green Bay, Whitehead slammed into running back Aaron Jones, forcing a fumble that would lead to a Bucs score and a win over the Packers.

Now the dynamic duo is back together again, and Whitehead’s presence bolsters a strong safety position that hasn’t been the same since his departure. The Bucs tried to replace Whitehead with Keanu Neal and Logan Ryan in 2022 and Ryan Neal last year. None of them were the steadying presence that Whitehead was for the Bucs, especially from 2020-21.

“Now that I’m here, it’s football,” Whitehead said. “I’m happy that I got to step away to elevate my game, because who knows what would have happened. I don’t want to take anything back. It’s going to elevate my game now, being in this defense, being with Antoine [Winfield Jr.]. It’s going to elevate my game even more.”

Whitehead has marveled at how well Winfield has played over the last couple of years, but especially last year when his six forced fumbles led the NFL in an All-Pro season.

Bucs Ss Jordan Whitehead and Antoine Winfield, Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“Everybody at the Jets – whatever team you come from – everybody knows about Antoine and they know the player he is and the great year he just had,” Whitehead said. “For any safety in the league, that’s motivation. Antoine is one of my best friends, so being able to come back and play with him [after] me stepping away and seeing a different side of things…He came in as a rookie when I was here, so I kind of felt like I brought him up a little bit. We learned from each other. I taught him a lot. Now, it’s like, ‘Antoine, this is your team. I’m your partner now.’

“We’re going to talk, we’re going to do things a lot. There’s a lot of similarities [in that] we play alike, and similarities that we [had] before when I was here. I want to sit back and evaluate, see what’s going on. Antoine is a leader and you want to follow greatness. Even though I’m older than him, he’s like my little brother – we’re going to push each other. Everybody in that room, any [defensive back] – corner, safety, nickel – there’s going to be a lot of leadership coming from my end [and] trying to bring guys along and bring the best out of everybody’s game.”