Dave Szott is beginning his eighth season as the Jets director of player development, his 10th season with the Jets overall and his 24rd season in the NFL. Originally selected in the seventh round (180th overall) of the 1990 NFL Draft, the Penn State grad played 14 seasons in the league with the Chiefs (1990-2000), Redskins (2001) and Jets (2002-03). He appeared in 162 games (156 starts) and 12 postseason starts, and was a consensus All-Pro and All-Madden choice in 1997.
After retiring from football, Szott coached the offensive line for the Jets for two seasons and served as team chaplain for two seasons before being named the director of player development in April 2008.
Szott oversees a number of NFL-mandated programs including Players Assistance, Continuing Education, Financial Education, and Career Development. With the Jets relocation to the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Summer 2008, Szott was a key figure in the smooth transition and relocation of the entire Jets organization. Szott’s efforts were recognized as he was awarded the player development award in the area of Player Assistance in 2008, the first rookie player development director to be so honored. He was also awarded the 2009 Player Assistance Award for this past season for his work in this area regarding the players.
Szott has served the community by receiving the Ed Block Coverage Award twice, once while playing for Kansas City and the other while playing for the Jets. He is on the Board of Directors for the Matheny Medical and Educational Center, which is a school and medical center for special needs children and adults located in Peapack, NJ. He also serves as special advisor and coach of the Morristown Wildcats Football Club, where he is consulted on coach and player code of conduct guidelines, helped establish a playbook, practice plans, coaching clinics for the coaches, etc.
Szott and his wife, Andrea, started Szott for Tots, a foundation whose mission is to bring awareness to the special needs community. The annual Szott for Tots Golf Outing is held every fall to raise money for the Matheny Medical and Educational Center.
Szott, a native of Clifton, NJ, Andrea, and their sons Shane, 20, and Joshua, 16, and a 1 year old foster daughter. The Szotts reside in Morristown, NJ.