Jason Pinnock and Jordan Whitehead only shared the field for a season during their time at Pitt, their first and final seasons, respectively, but the pair are going to get another crack at playing together.
After four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jordan Whitehead is joining the New York Jets — and Pinnock — on a two-year, $14.5 million deal, NFL Insider Josina Anderson reported.
Whitehead racked up 292 tackles (222 solo), 22 tackles for loss, two sacks, forced fumbles and recoveries, five interceptions and 25 passes defended in 59 games in Tampa, starting 55 of those games.
The hard-hitting safety played an integral role on Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl-winning squad in 2021, and now he’ll attempt to bring some of that “veteran” leadership to a New York team that’s looking to get back to relevancy.
At just 24, Whitehead is a very experienced, very talented option at a cheap discount for the Jets.
Whitehead, originally a four-star recruit at Pitt out of Central Valley High School in Monaca, Pa., recorded 235 tackles (162 solo), 8.5 tackles for loss, a half-sack, three interceptions, 12 passes defended and two defensive touchdowns in just 31 games at Pitt between 2015-17.
He was selected by the Buccaneers with a fourth-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Pinnock, a rookie fifth round pick out of Pitt in the 2021 NFL Draft, broke onto the scene last season. With two starts in the Jets’ final four games, he racked up 16 tackles (10 solo), forced two fumbles and defended a pass. The pair will patrol the secondary in New York next season, five seasons removed from their time together in the Pitt secondary.
Strange that he only got a two year deal. At 24, you’d think someone would be willing to sign him longer term.