One of the Jets’ former Pro Bowl defenders is coming back to New York.
Former cornerback Antonio Cromartie announced on Sunday he would be participating in the NFL’s Bill Walsh Internship with the Jets during training camp.
“Ready [to] learn as much as I can during this time,” Cromartie wrote. “Thank you Coach Saleh and your staff for this opportunity!!!”
Cromartie played five seasons with the Jets, making two Pro Bowls across his time in green-and-white.
From 2010-13, the 6-foot-2 cornerback’s 13 interceptions were tied for the 14th-most in the NFL.
The Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship began in 1987 and is open to either former NFL players or those who have coached at the high school, college or other professional level.
According to the NFL’s Football Operations website, the position was “designed as a vocational tool to increase the number of full-time NFL minority coaches.”
Having last played in 2016, the 40-year-old Cromartie has since transitioned to the coaching ranks, last working as an analyst at Division-II Saint Augustine University in 2023.
Before that, Cromartie was a defensive graduate assistant at Texas A&M in 2021, not to mention worked as an intern with the Jets in 2018 as a Bill Walsh Fellow.
Since its creation, the Bill Walsh Coaching Fellowship has been a proven accelerator of top coaches’ climbs through the ranks.
Alumni of the program include Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles and former Panthers and Commanders head coach Ron Rivera.
Cromartie will get the opportunity to learn under one of the NFL’s best defensive staffs, featuring head coach Saleh, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich and cornerbacks coach Tony Oden.
Other current Jets coaches to have participated in the Walsh Fellowship include tight ends coach Ron Middleton, assistant offensive line coach Ben Wilkerson and offensive assistant Junior Taylor.
Whether watching Aaron Rodgers throw darts, monitoring additions like Mike Williams and Tyron Smith or following Cromartie on the sidelines, the Jets’ training camp will offer no shortage of appointment viewing.
The team is set to fully report to camp on July 23.
