D'Anton Lynn

D'Anton Lynn
	Lynn in 2024
USC Trojans
Position:	Defensive coordinator
Personal information
Born:	October 24, 1989 (age 35); Plano, Texas, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	208 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school:	Celina (Celina, Texas)
College:	Penn State
Undrafted:	2012
Career history
As a player:
	New York Jets (2012); Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2013);
	* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
	New York Jets (2014); Seasonal intern; Buffalo Bills (2015–2016); Defensive assistant; Los Angeles Chargers (2017); Defensive assistant; Houston Texans (2018–2019); Assistant secondary coach; Houston Texans (2020); Secondary coach; Baltimore Ravens (2021–2022); Safeties coach; UCLA (2023); Defensive coordinator; USC (2024–present); Defensive coordinator;

Anthony Ray "D'Anton" Lynn II^[1] (born October 24, 1989)^[2] is an American football coach who is the defensive coordinator for the USC Trojans of the Big Ten Conference (NCAA). He was previously the defensive coordinator for the UCLA Bruins.

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.

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.^[2] He was selected for the Associated Press Class 3A first-team all-state.^[2]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	40^‡	Commit date
D'Anton Lynn Safety	Celina, Texas	Celina High School	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	177 lb (80 kg)	4.48	Nov 10, 2007
D'Anton Lynn Safety	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 15 (S) Rivals: 29 (Safety), 51 (TX)
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Penn State Football Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 21, 2020. "2008 Penn State Football Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved May 21, 2020. "2008 Penn State Nittany Lions commits". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 21, 2020. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved May 21, 2020. "2008 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

College

Lynn played four seasons as a cornerback at Pennsylvania State University.^[2] During his tenure with the Nittany Lions, he recorded 162 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery.^[3] He received honorable mention three times for the All-Big Ten team.^[4]

In his freshman year, on October 11, 2008, he just had 2 tackles against Wisconsin and Penn State won 48-7.^[5] As a sophomore, he won the starting cornerback position.^[2] On October 31, 2009, he recorded 8 tackles against Northwestern as Penn State won 34-13.^[6]

In his junior year, Lynn started every single game at cornerback.^[2] He finished the season with 75 tackles, 3 interceptions and 7 passes defensed.^[7] On September 11, 2010, he recorded 5 tackles in a loss to No. 1 ranked Alabama by the score of 24-3.^[8] The next game on September 18, 2010, he had 2 tackles and an interception against Kent State and Penn State won 24-0.^[9] On October 23, 2010, he record 10 tackles, one interception and 2 passes defended against Minnesota and Penn State won 33-21.^[10]

National Football League

2012 NFL Combine

Pre-draft measurables
Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Bench press
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	206 lb (93 kg)	29+3⁄4 in (0.76 m)	8+1⁄2 in (0.22 m)	4.77 s	31.5 in (0.80 m)	111 ft 0 in (33.83 m)	17.0 reps
All values from the NFL Combine^[11]

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.^[12] On August 31, 2012, he was released.^[13]

Canadian Football League

Hamilton Tiger Cats

On May 24, 2013, Lynn signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.^[14] On June 2, 2013, Lynn was released.^[15]

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.^[16]

Los Angeles Chargers

On February 2, 2017, Lynn was hired by the Los Angeles Chargers as a defensive assistant.^[1]

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.^[17] 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.^[18]

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.

UCLA Bruins

On February 27, 2023, Lynn was hired by UCLA to become their defensive coordinator, replacing Bill McGovern.^[4] Lynn's two-year contract at $1.02 million per year was the richest in the program's history for an assistant at his position.^[19] He inherited a defense that finished the past five seasons Nos. 86, 70, 69, 113 and 102 in the nation in total defense. Under Lynn in 2023, the Bruins defense improved to No. 11 in the regular season, allowing just 299 yards per game.^[19] It was fewest yards allowed in the Pac-12 Conference, and they also surrendered the second-fewest points. On November 18 against their crosstown rivals, USC, the Bruins won 38–20, with the defense holding the Trojans to their lowest scoring output of the season along with three yards rushing, USC's worst ground performance since 2018.^[19]

USC Trojans

On December 1, 2023, USC hired Lynn as their defensive coordinator after having fired their previous coordinator, Alex Grinch, midseason on November 5.^[19] Lynn left UCLA before they were invited to the LA Bowl.^[20]

Personal life

Lynn is the son of former Los Angeles Chargers head coach, and current Washington Commanders run game coordinator/running backs coach, Anthony Lynn.^[21]