Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League

Category: Athlete | Alma Mater: Central Valley, 2015 | Sport: Football

Jordan Whitehead emerged as one of the most accomplished athletes in Central Valley High School history, leading the Warriors to the 2014 WPIAL football championship and a PIAA runner-up finish. A four-year starter at both defensive back and running back, he was a four-time All-Conference selection and guided Central Valley to a remarkable 45-7 team record, serving as team captain as a senior. Whitehead concluded his high school career as the school’s all-time leader in touchdowns with 68 and formerly its all-time leading rusher, punctuating his dominance with an extraordinary senior season that included 1,933 rushing yards on just 148 carries, 24 receptions for 471 yards, and 35 total touchdowns. His performance earned First Team All-State honors, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Player of the Year recognition in 2014, Fabulous 22 selection, Tribune-Review Terrific 25 honors, and a nomination for Pennsylvania Player of the Year. A standout multi-sport athlete, Whitehead also starred in track and field, becoming Central Valley’s all-time leader in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.8 seconds. He continued his football career at the University of Pittsburgh, where he made an immediate impact in the secondary and was named ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year and ACC Rookie of the Year in 2015, establishing himself as one of the conference’s premier defensive backs. Whitehead was selected in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and went on to enjoy a multi-year NFL career, highlighted by winning Super Bowl LV with Tampa Bay following the 2020 season.