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Back in the NFL: Paul Worrilow to leave Salesianum post for New York Jets’ coaching staff

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Back in the NFL: Paul Worrilow to leave Salesianum post for New York Jets’ coaching staff

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Dream-job opportunities often arrive at unusual times and Paul Worrilow could not pass up this one.

Worrilow is joining the New York Jets’ coaching staff.

The Jets elevated defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich to the head-coaching job two weeks on an interim basis after Robert Saleh was fired. Ulbrich was linebackers coach Worrilow’s last two seasons, 2015 and 2016, with the Atlanta Falcons and the two have remained close since.

“In my opinion,” Worrilow said, “Jeff is the best defensive coordinator in the NFL. To get a chance to work on his staff . . . ”

Worrilow, the former Concord High All-Stater and University of Delaware All-American linebacker, will leave his post as Salesianum School’s defensive coordinator after this Friday’s visit to rival Middletown to join the Jets as a defensive assistant.

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“It’s a weird time to get hired,” Worrilow said, “but that’s what happens when there’s firings. You gotta fill spots.”

Ulbrich certainly knows that Worrilow was an NFL overachiever after signing as a free agent with the Atlanta Falcons in 2013. He made more tackles than all but four NFL players his first two seasons.

He played four seasons with Atlanta, including its Super Bowl loss to New England his final year. Worrilow was then with Detroit in 2017, missed the 2018 season with a knee injury after signing with the Eagles, and played for the Jets in 2019.

In 76 career NFL games, including 52 starts, Worrilow made 415 tackles, forced four fumbles, recovered four and had two interceptions. Now he’ll seek to inspire present-day players to be equally effective.

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“It’s never been a secret,” said Worrilow, a 2023 Delaware Sports Hall of Fame inductee. “I want to coach in the NFL. I want to be a play caller, just go through the ranks.”

Worrilow and wife Gina are the parents of four daughters. Since his NFL career ended, Worrilow has operated Motive Sports & Physical Therapy with his brother Mark at three southeastern Pennsylvania locations.

He began his coaching career on first-year Delaware coach Ryan Carty’s staff in 2022.  Worrilow then joined new Salesianum coach Gene Delle Donne’s staff as defensive coordinator in 2023, helping to guide the Sals to the state Class 3A title. The Sals are ranked No. 1 in the state this year.

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“It’s been super special,” Worrilow said of coaching the Sals. “In terms of cutting my teeth in the profession, I don’t think there could be a better person to work for, without a doubt, than Gene.”

Worrilow was equally complimentary of Delaware defensive coordinator Manny Rojas, whom he worked under in 2022 and took Rojas’ defensive playbook to Sallies.

“So much of what I do at Sallies I got from watching Manny,” Worrilow said.

But now Worrilow has been summoned to the sport’s highest level in the NFL, and will strive to be as successful as a coach as he was as a player.

“It’s been hard trying to get in at that level the past four years,” he said. “So the timing is not ideal, but anyone that knows me knows, like, I have to win a Super Bowl at some point in my life. It’s an obsession.”

Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com and our DE Game Day newsletter.

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