Football
Lynn, D'Anton
D'Anton Lynn
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator
D'Anton Lynn was hired as defensive coordinator for UCLA football Feb. 27, 2023. An NFL coaching veteran, Lynn served as safeties coach for the Baltimore Ravens immediately before joining the Bruins.
In 2022, the Baltimore defense surrendered just 18.5 points per game, good for third in the league. Lynn guided a unit that featured Chuck Clark, who piled up a career-high 101 total tackles, and Marcus Williams, whose team-best four interceptions came in 10 games. Lynn also aided in the development of rookie Kyle Hamilton, who made 62 stops. With Lynn overseeing the defensive backs in 2021, the Ravens recorded a third-down defense rate of 34.8% that ranked third overall. Lynn was chosen as East head coach for the 2022 East-West Shrine Bowl in Las Vegas.
After two years as assistant secondary coach, Lynn was promoted to secondary coach by the Houston Texans in 2020. Houston won back-to-back AFC South championships in 2019 and 2018. The 2018 team gave up 19.8 points per game, tied for the league’s fourth-best mark. The Texans’ +13 turnover differential in 2018 still represents a franchise record and was second overall. Safety Justin Reid was a stalwart in the defensive backfield under Lynn, logging 249 total tackles and five interceptions in 41 games.
Lynn served as a defensive assistant under his father, head coach Anthony, with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017. He worked primarily with a linebackers group that contributed to the NFL’s best red zone defense, allowing opponents to score at a clip of just 36.1%. The Chargers defense gave up the third-fewest points per game at 17.0 and was tied for fifth in sacks with 43. Joey Bosa (12.5, seventh) and Melvin Ingram (10.5, 15th) were each listed among the league leaders for sacks.
A Buffalo Bills assistant for two years, Lynn supported a defense that finished fourth in both passing touchdowns allowed with 19 and opponent completion percentage at 59.9 in 2016. The 2015 squad tied for the league lead with 93 passes defensed and saw opponents record the third-lowest completion rate at 57.6%.
Lynn began his coaching career as a seasonal intern for the New York Jets in 2014. He previously worked for the team’s scouting department in 2013.
Lynn was signed by the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2012 before landing with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League in 2013. A three-time honorable-mention All-Big Ten selection as a cornerback, Lynn played for three 10-win teams at Penn State from 2008-2011. He recorded 162 total tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, four interceptions and one fumble recovery across 47 games – starting 37 of his last 38 played. In 2010, Lynn was second among the Nittany Lions with 75 total tackles and tied for the team lead with three interceptions.
Lynn and his wife Courtney have one child, Anthony III.
In 2022, the Baltimore defense surrendered just 18.5 points per game, good for third in the league. Lynn guided a unit that featured Chuck Clark, who piled up a career-high 101 total tackles, and Marcus Williams, whose team-best four interceptions came in 10 games. Lynn also aided in the development of rookie Kyle Hamilton, who made 62 stops. With Lynn overseeing the defensive backs in 2021, the Ravens recorded a third-down defense rate of 34.8% that ranked third overall. Lynn was chosen as East head coach for the 2022 East-West Shrine Bowl in Las Vegas.
After two years as assistant secondary coach, Lynn was promoted to secondary coach by the Houston Texans in 2020. Houston won back-to-back AFC South championships in 2019 and 2018. The 2018 team gave up 19.8 points per game, tied for the league’s fourth-best mark. The Texans’ +13 turnover differential in 2018 still represents a franchise record and was second overall. Safety Justin Reid was a stalwart in the defensive backfield under Lynn, logging 249 total tackles and five interceptions in 41 games.
Lynn served as a defensive assistant under his father, head coach Anthony, with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017. He worked primarily with a linebackers group that contributed to the NFL’s best red zone defense, allowing opponents to score at a clip of just 36.1%. The Chargers defense gave up the third-fewest points per game at 17.0 and was tied for fifth in sacks with 43. Joey Bosa (12.5, seventh) and Melvin Ingram (10.5, 15th) were each listed among the league leaders for sacks.
A Buffalo Bills assistant for two years, Lynn supported a defense that finished fourth in both passing touchdowns allowed with 19 and opponent completion percentage at 59.9 in 2016. The 2015 squad tied for the league lead with 93 passes defensed and saw opponents record the third-lowest completion rate at 57.6%.
Lynn began his coaching career as a seasonal intern for the New York Jets in 2014. He previously worked for the team’s scouting department in 2013.
Lynn was signed by the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2012 before landing with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League in 2013. A three-time honorable-mention All-Big Ten selection as a cornerback, Lynn played for three 10-win teams at Penn State from 2008-2011. He recorded 162 total tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, four interceptions and one fumble recovery across 47 games – starting 37 of his last 38 played. In 2010, Lynn was second among the Nittany Lions with 75 total tackles and tied for the team lead with three interceptions.
Lynn and his wife Courtney have one child, Anthony III.
UCLA Football Media Availability - Coach Skipper (Sept. 29, 2025)
Monday, September 29
UCLA Football Postgame - Players, at Northwestern (Sept. 27, 2025)
Saturday, September 27
UCLA Football Postgame - Coach Skipper, at Northwestern (Sept. 27, 2025)
Saturday, September 27
Bruin Insider Show - Tim Skipper (Sept. 25, 2025)
Thursday, September 25
