Edwards worked as a defensive assistant at San Jose State from 1987 to 1989 before joining the Kansas City Chiefs as a scout coach and defensive back until 1995. He was assistant defensive head coach for the Buccaneers from Tampa Bay until 2000 under Tony Dungy. Later, Edwards was named head coach of the New York Jets on January 28, 2001.
Following the 2005 campaign, Chiefs chairman Carl Peterson made what could have been construed as doctored comments to the media regarding interest in hiring Edwards. The Kansas City Chiefs have been cleared by the Jets to speak with Edwards. Edwards had two years left on his contract with the Jets at the time, but the Jets traded him to the Kansas City Chiefs for a player after five tough years. Unfortunately, he struggled to work with the Chiefs and was let go in early 2009.
After a humiliating exit from the team, he had no choice but to work for ESPN as an analyst. He returned to the game after seven years and was named head coach of the Arizona State football team on December 3, 2017.
His tenure with the team got off to a good start and, thanks to his outstanding performance, he was allowed to extend his contract with a pay rise until 2024. However, things started to go off the rails after the ASU acknowledged on June 16, 2021, that the NCAA is reviewing the football program’s recruitment of high school athletes during the COVID-19 era in 2020.
That season, several assistant coaches were granted administrative leaves. Despite the accusations, Edwards continued to be head coach of the Sun Devils despite widespread defection. Ultimately, the day after losing to Eastern Michigan 30-21, Arizona State fired Edwards on September 18, 2022.
