Winston DeLattiboudere III used to dream out loud. As a senior at the University of Minnesota in 2019, the former Howard High standout once told head coach PJ Fleck that he’d coach Howard University one day—and bring his team back to Minneapolis to beat the Gophers by 21. Fleck laughed and told him to be careful what he wished for.
Fast forward six years, and DeLattiboudere is now the youngest defensive line coach in the NFL, hired by the Arizona Cardinals at just 27. The Howard County native and 2014 All-Metro Defensive Player of the Year didn’t take a traditional path. Undersized when he arrived at Minnesota, he fought his way into a starting role, became a team captain, and was a key part of the Gophers’ 11–2 season in 2019.
He’s coached across the country—Charlotte, Oregon, Akron, and back to Minnesota—working with top-tier talent and building a reputation as a high-energy, deeply committed leader. PJ Fleck called him a “transformational coach,” the kind of guy who can make NFL veterans better players, husbands, and fathers. DeLattiboudere isn’t just about X’s and O’s. He wears cleats to practice, jumps into drills, and sweats alongside his players. He’s not afraid to lead by example—because that’s what he’s always done.
Now, as he steps onto the biggest stage in football, he’s still fueled by the same mentality he had in high school: “I haven’t done anything. I’ve got everything to prove.” Winston DeLattiboudere is proof that work ethic, heart, and belief can take you all the way. And for this Howard County star, the job’s not finished. Not even close.
