D'Anton Lynn
Anthony Ray "D'Anton" Lynn II is an American football coach who is currently the defensive coordinator for [Penn State Penn State Nittany Lions football|Nittany Lions football|Penn State], his alma mater. He previously served as the defensive coordinator for UCLA and USC.
Lynn played college football as a cornerback for the Penn State Nittany Lions, and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Jets in 2012. He became an assistant coach with the Jets, Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Chargers before becoming the secondary coach for the Houston Texans. Lynn then served as the defensive backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens in 2021 before being elevated in 2022 to their safeties coach. He became the UCLA defensive coordinator in 2023, leaving for USC after the regular season. In 2025, he was named the defensive coordinator at Penn State, his alma mater.
Playing career
High school
Lynn attended Celina High School in Celina, Texas. Lynn also played defensive back, linebacker, quarterback, running back and wide receiver at Celina High School. He was selected for the Associated Press Class 3A first-team all-state.College
Lynn played four seasons as a cornerback at Pennsylvania State University. During his tenure with the Nittany Lions, he recorded 162 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery. He received honorable mention three times for the All-Big Ten team.In his freshman year, on October 11, 2008, he just had 2 tackles against Wisconsin and Penn State won 48-7. As a sophomore, he won the starting cornerback position. On October 31, 2009, he recorded 8 tackles against Northwestern as Penn State won 34-13.
In his junior year, Lynn started every single game at cornerback. He finished the season with 75 tackles, 3 interceptions and 7 passes defensed. On September 11, 2010, he recorded 5 tackles in a loss to No. 1 ranked Alabama by the score of 24-3. The next game on September 18, 2010, he had 2 tackles and an interception against Kent State and Penn State won 24-0. On October 23, 2010, he record 10 tackles, one interception and 2 passes defended against Minnesota and Penn State won 33-21.
National Football League
New York Jets
On April 29, 2012, Lynn signed with New York Jets as an undrafted free agent and reuniting him with his father Anthony Lynn who was at the time the Jets running backs coach. On August 31, 2012, he was released.Canadian Football League
Hamilton Tiger Cats
On May 24, 2013, Lynn signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. On June 2, 2013, Lynn was released.Coaching career
New York Jets
In 2014, Lynn served as a seasonal intern for the New York Jets, after serving in the team's scouting department in 2013.Buffalo Bills
On January 26, 2015, Lynn was hired by the Buffalo Bills as a defensive assistant.Los Angeles Chargers
On February 2, 2017, Lynn was hired by the Los Angeles Chargers as a defensive assistant.Houston Texans
On February 7, 2018, Lynn was hired by the Houston Texans as their assistant defensive backs coach under head coach Bill O’Brien. On January 29, 2020, Lynn was promoted to the team's secondary coach.Baltimore Ravens
On January 24, 2021, Lynn was hired by the Baltimore Ravens as their defensive backs coach under defensive coordinator Don Martindale and head coach John Harbaugh.On January 20, 2022, Lynn was selected as head coach of the East squad in the 2022 East-West Shrine Bowl held in Las Vegas.