Selected in the fourth round (117th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers.
Was signed by the New York Jets as an unrestricted free agent on March 17, 2022.
Was signed by the Buccaneers as an unrestricted free agent on March 13, 2024.
1x AFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 1, 2023).
Has played in 93 regular season games, with 89 starts, totaling 477 tackles, (29 for loss), 11 interceptions, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 42 passes defensed.
Started six postseason games, with 22 tackles (two for loss), two forced fumbles and one pass defensed.
Since entering the league in 2018, his 29 tackles for loss are tied for the sixth- most among NFL defensive backs.
One of only two safeties in the NFL to have at least 10 interceptions and 25 tackles for loss since 2018 (also Jordan Poyer).
Recorded a career high three interceptions on Monday Night Football against the Buffalo Bills (9/11/23).
Registered two forced fumbles in the NFC Championship Game at Green Bay (1/24/21), a career-high (regular season or postseason) and the most by a Buccaneers player in a postseason contest dating back to at least 2000.
Tampa Bay's 2020 defense led the league in rushing yards allowed per game (80.6) and yards allowed per rush (3.60), while ranking sixth in yards allowed per play (5.12), sixth in yards allowed per game (327.1), ranking tied for second in tackles for loss (91), tied for fourth in sacks (48.0) and tied for fifth in takeaways (25).
In 2019 tallied nine passes defensed, tied for the eighth-most among NFL safeties.
As a rookie in 2018, started 11 games and ranked second on team with 76 tackles, including four for loss, while adding four passes defensed.
Made NFL debut in reserve role at New Orleans (9/9/18).
Recorded a career high 11 tackles in Week 13 of the 2022 season against the Minnesota Vikings. (12/4/22)
Registered first career interception (Jared Goff) among his three passes defensed in win at Los Angeles Rams (9/29/19).
Notched first career sack at Denver (9/27/20).
Recorded first career forced fumble against New Orleans (11/8/20).
Started all 17 games for the New York Jets, finishing with 97 tackles (three for loss), nine passes defensed, a career- high four interceptions, one quarterback hit and 0.5 sacks.
Was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 1 of the 2023 season after posting a career high three interceptions on Monday Night Football against the Buffalo Bills.
Started 30-of-31 career games at Pittsburgh (2015-17), totaling 234 tackles (7.5 for loss), 12 passes defensed, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and a half sack. Also saw time on offense, rushing 43 times for 362 yards (8.4 avg.) and three touchdowns.
Declared for the NFL Draft following his junior season (2017), when he started all nine games he played in, recording60 tackles, four passes defensed, one interception and one fumble recovery. Also rushed for 142 yards and a touchdown.
Earned honorable mention All-ACC honors from the league's coaches and was named ACC Co-Defensive Back
of the Week after recording a team-leading 10 tackles and a game-clinching interception in a win against Duke.
Earned second-team All-ACC honors from the league's coaches and media as a sophomore (2016), after starting nine games and tallying 65 tackles (1.5 for loss), two passes defensed, one interception (returned 59 yards for a touchdown), one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
A consensus Freshman All-American in 2015 after started 12-of-13 games, registering 109 tackles (six for loss), six passes defensed, one interception, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery (returned 22 yards for a touchdown) and a half-sack. Also rushed 12 times for 122 yards and two touchdowns.
Named the ACC Rookie of the Year and Defensive Rooke of the Year by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA), becoming the first player to earn both awards since North Carolina cornerback Dre Bly in 1996. He was also named ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year by the league's coaches and shared overall ACC Rookie of the Year with Pittsburgh running back Qadree Ollison.
A third-team All-ACC selection by the league's media and coaches and a three-time ACC rookie of the Week, his 109 tackles established a new school record for a freshman.
Majored in communication.
Attended Central Valley High School (Aliquippa, Pennsylvania).
Pennsylvania's No. 1 overall prospect according to Rivals, earning Player of the Year honors from the Pittsburgh Post- Gazette, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Beaver Country Times, while being selected All-State Class AAA by the Pennsylvania Sports Writers, first-team All-Class AAA and Class AAA Defensive Player of the Year by by Pennsylvania Football News. Named to the Pennsylvania Football News 2014 #TeamPA, which recognizes the best players in the state regardless of school classification.
Received the Pittsburgh Athletics Association Mercury Award, honoring the top high school football player in Western Pennsylvania.
Selected to play in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl.
Has one brother and one sister
Son of Gregory and Antonia Whitehead.
In 2020, supported the American Cancer Society as part of the NFL's My Cause, My Cleats initiative.
