The Jets have put an end to a drawn-out defensive coordinator search. They’re hiring former Dolphins pass game coordinator Brian Duker, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
The 36-year-old Duker was not publicly on the radar for the Jets’ job until they held a virtual interview with him on Tuesday. He’ll now reunite with head coach Aaron Glenn, whom he teamed with in Detroit from 2021-23. Glenn was the Lions’ defensive coordinator then, while Duker served as a defensive assistant, safeties coach and defensive backs coach.
After helping develop Lions safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, Duker left for Miami. He spent two years with the Dolphins, but with new head coach Jeff Hafley and his staff coming in, Duker will exit to take on a bigger role with a different AFC East team in 2026.
Duker became the ninth coach to interview for the Jets’ DC gig, a position that once looked likely to go to the experienced Don “Wink” Martindale. Although Martindale was the only candidate who landed a second interview, he and the Jets didn’t close the deal. Glenn’s preference to call the defensive plays had something to do with it, Connor Hughes of SNY reports. It’s also part of the reason why Broncos pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard was “never an option” despite also interviewing with the Jets.
At the outset of the search, Glenn did not make it known that he intended to call plays in 2026, but plans changed along the way, per Hughes. Duker, who has no play-calling experience, will act as Glenn’s second in command next season. The duo will aim for more successful results after the Jets finished the year 25th in yards, 31st in points, and somehow failed to intercept a single pass.
The Jets’ defensive struggles led to the mid-December firing of Steve Wilks. Defensive backs coach/pass game coordinator Chris Harris replaced Wilks for the final three games of the season, but the Jets allowed a whopping 106 points in that span. Harris nonetheless interviewed for the full-time role, but Glenn will turn to Duker instead.
Pass game coordinator to DC? Jets gonna Jets. Maybe they’ll draft another FB in the 1st round again.
Matt Snell was an excellent player for them, who should have been MVP of SB III. The Jets were actually gonna put him at linebacker, but his coach at Ohio State, Woody Hayes, insisted to HC Weeb Ewbank that he would be a great fullback and he was. Snell did it all, and would have had more stats had he not had the bad knee injury in 1967.
And your point is…….?????
@ Brian…Did the Jets actually draft 2 first round FB’s? I had no idea about that.
From google: The New York Jets drafted fullback Roger Vick out of Texas A&M in the first round of the 1987 NFL Draft, selecting him 21st overall
Yes, the Jets drafted Snell in 1964. Vick was a big tailback at Texas A&M … that was my point Hexbreaker.
As long as they don’t draft a QB in round 1 because that’s where QB’s go to die. At least Darnold survived that dumpster fire but he was on life support for awhile with the jets
Geno Smith also survived and still is starting in his mid 30’s.
Geno Smith wasn’t a 1st round pick he was like a second or third
2nd round, if I recall. Name any QB, drafted in any round, that has succeeded w/ the NYJ’s. I’m 52 & can’t name one.
Joe Namath, first overall, 1965
At least three others but limited success, O’ Brien in 1983, Pennington in 2000, but rotator cuff injuries did him in and Sanchez 2009, who lost confidence after the butt-fumble.
I just didn’t mention them because none of them lasted a decade. You could even add Richard Todd, since he only played about one year less than O’Brien did. In each of their cases, by the time the player was around 30, the team realized he’s not the guy. It was even sooner in Sanchez’s case, but, you know, the butt-fumble happened.
At least Sanchez knew what it felt like to be so close to a SB. His last two seasons in NY, the team just didnt have any weapons to help him, though Kerley tried. Tomlinson was still a leader but retired and when Revis got hurt, the air went out of the defense that final year for Sanchez.
Jets fans are still upset over their loss to the Dolphins in that 1982 AFC Championship game. For some crazy reason, whether Jets coaching, the Dolphins defense or just Richard Todd, they never threw the ball to Wesley Walker, their bread and butter receiver?
Pass game coordinators are usually defensive coaches for some reason.
The bad get worse
I’m looking forward to the Duke Nukem memes.
I’ll be more partial to the “Dookie Defense” memes
Hopefully that defense won’t make Jets fans want to Puke Nukem
Makes more sense to reunite Glenn with someone who’s actually coached under him before than it did to pair him with Wilks, who was known for running a very different system.
Had to look him up, doesn’t even have his own wiki page