Jets Hire Two Former Pittsburgh Staffers
As Jets head coach Aaron Glenn continues to shuffle his staff in Year 2, he added a pair of former Steelers staffers freed up by expiring contracts and the departure of Mike Tomlin from Pittsburgh. He also looked at an internal candidate to fill a vacant role on his defensive staff.
On Wednesday, New York announced that Karl Dunbar would be trading out his black and yellow for green and white as the Jets’ new defensive line coach. Dunbar should be fairly familiar with the role, considering he held it from 2012-14. In addition to his two stints with the Jets, the veteran 58-year-old assistant has held DL coaching roles with college powerhouses LSU and Alabama and the Bears, Vikings, Bills, and Steelers in the NFL.
A five-year stint in Minnesota saw him build the “Williams Wall,” coaching interior defenders Kevin Williams and Pat Williams on the league’s best run defense for three straight seasons. Arriving in Pittsburgh the year after Cameron Heyward‘s first first-team All-Pro season, Dunbar’s defensive lines with the Steelers became notorious for bringing pressure as other contributors like Javon Hargrave, Stephon Tuitt, Chris Wormley, Keeanu Benton, and Derrick Harmon all scheduled frequent meetings at the quarterback over his eight-year tenure.
Joining Dunbar in the trip from Pittsburgh is tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts who, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, will be assuming the same role in New York. Roberts started his coaching career working two years at FAU as running backs coach and spending two more with the Owls coaching wide receivers. After that, apart from a single 2016 season in which he coached tight ends at Indiana’s high school powerhouse Carmel, the 60-year-old assistant has enjoyed a 22-year career as an NFL coach. Aside from a three-year stint as a running backs coach with the Chargers, his NFL career has been spent solely as a tight ends coach with stops at Jacksonville, Cleveland, Tampa Bay, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh.
He’s coached such veterans as Marcedes Lewis in Jacksonville, Kellen Winslow in both Cleveland and Tampa Bay, Dallas Clark, Coby Fleener, and Dwayne Allen in Indianapolis, Hunter Henry in Los Angeles, and Eric Ebron, Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, and Jonnu Smith in Pittsburgh. He’ll take over a position room that should return talented rookie Mason Taylor in 2026.
Lastly in New York, as the Jets looks to replace linebackers coach Aaron Curry, one of several departures shortly after the end of the 2025 season, Glenn has opted to interview Nathaniel Willingham for a potential promotion, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The son of storied collegiate head coach Tyrone Willingham, Nathaniel first came to the NFL as a quality control coach for the Broncos in 2019 after a four-year stint at Stanford. He joined the Jets in 2022 as a defensive assistant, was promoted to defensive backs/nickelbacks coach in 2024, and was retained as assistant linebackers coach last year. He’ll how hope to earn his way back to a position coaching role under Glenn for 2026.
Tyrod Taylor Open To Re-Signing With Jets
After spending the past two seasons with the Jets, well-traveled quarterback Tyrod Taylor is a few weeks away from returning to free agency on March 11. Regardless of whether he hits the open market, Taylor is open to re-signing with the Jets, Brian Costello of the New York Post reports.
Taylor revealed that the Jets expressed interest in re-signing him at the end of the season, though the 36-year-old acknowledged “conversations in January are different than conversations in March.”
The Jets have since moved on from offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, who lasted just one year on the job. They replaced Engstrand with the experienced Frank Reich on Wednesday and then hired Seth Ryan as their passing game coordinator on Saturday.
While Taylor believes “[Engstrand] has a promising career” ahead of him, he’s excited about the possibility of working with Reich.
“I think going out and getting coach Frank Reich was a good move,” he said. “I know he’s had a ton of success throughout this league. If I do go back to the Jets, I’m looking forward to seeing what that looks like and what are the next steps.”
It’s unclear which QBs Reich and Ryan will coach in 2026, but it’s fair to say the Jets don’t have any obvious solutions in the fold. The team took a fairly expensive gamble on former first-round pick Justin Fields in free agency last March, but the two-year, $40MM pact with $30MM in guarantees hasn’t worked out at all. Head coach Aaron Glenn benched Fields for the rest of the season in mid-November, and the Jets are expected to release the soon-to-be 27-year-old in the near future.
Fields and Brady Cook, who struggled mightily as an undrafted rookie, combined for 13 starts in 2025. The other four went to Taylor, but he also offered lackluster production. In parts of six games, Taylor completed just 59.7% of passes and posted a paltry 5.8 yards per attempt with five touchdowns, five interceptions and a 72.9 passer rating. Taylor suffered a groin injury in a Week 14 loss to the Dolphins and didn’t play again for the rest of the year.
Now a veteran of seven teams and 15 seasons, Taylor joined the Jets on a two-year, $12MM contract in 2024. Whether it’s with the Jets or another club, it’s doubtful he’ll do as well on his next deal. Taylor would be at the lower end of a veteran free agent class that’s currently set to include Daniel Jones, Malik Willis, former Jets teammate Aaron Rodgers, ex-Ravens teammate Joe Flacco, Marcus Mariota and Russell Wilson, among others.
Jets Hire Seth Ryan As Passing Game Coordinator
After a year as the Lions’ assistant tight ends coach, Seth Ryan is taking over as the Jets’ passing game coordinator, Rich Cimini of ESPN reports. Ryan is the son of ex-Jets head coach Rex Ryan and the grandson of former Jets defensive line coach Buddy Ryan.
Set to turn 32 in March, Seth Ryan is a former Clemson wide receiver whose coaching career began with the Chargers in 2019. He spent two years on Anthony Lynn‘s staff, but the Chargers fired Lynn after 2020. With Lynn then becoming the Lions’ offensive coordinator, Ryan followed him to the Motor City. Although Lynn only held his job for a year, Ryan wound up lasting a half-decade on Dan Campbell‘s staff.
Ryan was the Lions’ assistant wide receivers coach from 2021-24, a period in which he mostly worked with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond and Josh Reynolds. Unfortunately for Ryan, in his lone season with the Lions’ tight ends, starter Sam LaPorta missed eight games with a back injury.
Ryan will now take on a much bigger role in New York, where he’ll assist new offensive coordinator Frank Reich. The two will aim for massive improvements to a Jets passing game that easily ranked last in the NFL in 2025. The team will head into the heart of the offseason without an answer at quarterback after big-money pickup Justin Fields flopped this past season.
Although the Jets signed Fields for a guaranteed $30MM last March, head coach Aaron Glenn benched him for the rest of the year in mid-November. The Jets are expected to move on from Fields sometime soon. Journeyman backup Tyrod Taylor is slated to hit free agency, though the club is interested in re-signing him for what should be a fairly cheap deal. The Jets also have Brady Cook, but he was in over his head as an undrafted rookie.
Along with seeking a capable QB in either free agency or the draft, where they own two first-round picks (Nos. 2 and 16), the Jets will need to find more weapons in the passing game for Reich and Ryan. The Jets have a legitimate star in No. 1 wide receiver Garrett Wilson and a promising tight end in Mason Taylor. There’s little else in the cupboard, though receivers Adonai Mitchell and John Metchie did see their production increase after the Jets acquired them in trades before the Nov. 4 deadline.
As recent second-round picks (Metchie in 2022, Mitchell in 2024), the Jets may continue to hope at least one of them turns into a consistent contributor. Even if that happens, the Jets would benefit from adding more receiving talent this offseason. They have the cap space and the draft capital to make it happen.
2026 NFL Offseason Outlook Series
Pro Football Rumors is breaking down how all 32 teams’ offseason blueprints are shaping up. Going forward, the Offseason Outlook series is exclusive to Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers, and that link provides details on how to sign up for an annual membership.
This post will be updated as more Outlooks are published.
AFC East
- Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
AFC North
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Cleveland Browns
- Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South
- Houston Texans
- Indianapolis Colts
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Tennessee Titans
AFC West
- Denver Broncos
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Los Angeles Chargers
NFC East
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Giants
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Washington Commanders
NFC North
- Chicago Bears
- Detroit Lions
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
NFC South
- Atlanta Falcons
- Carolina Panthers
- New Orleans Saints
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC West
- Arizona Cardinals
- Los Angeles Rams
- San Francisco 49ers
- Seattle Seahawks
Jets Hire Frank Reich As OC
After the Jets parted ways with offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand last week, Frank Reich quickly became the favorite to replace him. The Jets will indeed hire Reich as their offensive coordinator, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The 64-year-old Reich, who conducted his second interview with the Jets on Tuesday, beat out fellow veteran coaches Greg Roman and Darrell Bevell for the job. He’ll now return to the NFL after serving as the interim head coach at Stanford in 2025.
An NFL quarterback from 1985-1998, Reich spent the ’96 season with the Jets. Former defensive back and current Jets head coach Aaron Glenn was Reich’s teammate in New York. Thirty years later, Glenn is bringing in Reich to boost an offense that finished 29th in both points and yards this past season.
“Frank has a rare combination of experience, creativity, and calm under pressure,” Glenn said in a team-issued statement. “He’s lived this game from every angle — as a quarterback in this league and as a coach who’s led offenses at the highest level. He is unique in his ability to see the game for what it is right now and adapt when appropriate. Frank understands offense and how to utilize the strengths of players. I am looking forward to how he will help this team have success.”
Reich, who began his coaching career as an intern with the Colts in 2006, later worked as the Chargers’ offensive coordinator from 2014-15 and the Eagles’ OC between 2016-17. After winning a Super Bowl with backup QB Nick Foles in his last year in Philadelphia, Reich returned to Indianapolis in 2018 as its head coach.
In four-plus years with the Colts, Reich combined for a 40-33-1 record and two playoff berths despite instability under center. Andrew Luck was the Colts’ starter in Reich’s first year, but after his out-of-nowhere retirement in August 2019, Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers and Carson Wentz each held the role in the ensuing three seasons. There was more upheaval at the position in 2022, when Matt Ryan succeeded Wentz. The Ryan-led Colts got off to 3-5-1 start that year, leading to Reich’s ouster.
Reich immediately received a second chance as Carolina’s head coach in 2023, former No. 1 pick Bryce Young‘s rookie year, but it was a disastrous stint. With the Panthers off to a 1-10 start, they pulled the plug on Reich. He spent 2024 out of football before reuniting with Luck, Stanford’s general manager, for a year.
In his return to the pros, Reich will once again enter into a less-than-ideal QB situation. The Jets, who easily finished last in passing in 2025, don’t have an in-house answer at the position. They could re-sign journeyman Tyrod Taylor, but he’s better off in a backup role.
While Justin Fields inked a two-year deal with $30MM in guarantees last March, the Jets are likely to release him after a rough season in which Glenn benched him for Taylor. Brady Cook made four starts as an undrafted rookie, but he didn’t look like any kind of solution during that stretch.
With the league’s fourth-most spending space (around $83.57MM, per Over the Cap), a pair of first-round picks and four selections in the top 44, the Jets are in position to upgrade at QB this offseason. That would help Reich’s cause, as would re-signing soon-to-be free agent running back Breece Hall. As of now, though, there’s little high-end offensive talent on hand outside of wide receiver Garrett Wilson, tight end Mason Taylor, and tackles Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou.
Glenn made it known during his OC search that he wanted Engstrand’s replacement to work as the “head coach of the offense.” With the experienced Reich now running the unit, Glenn will take on a bigger role on the defensive side in 2026. Glenn, who hired first-time D-coordinator Brian Duker last week, will call the defensive plays next season.
Giants Hire Dawn Aponte As Senior VP
Dawn Aponte is leaving the league office for an executive position with the Giants, according to Jordan Raanan and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Aponte will serve as the Giants’ senior vice president in football operations.
This ends a nine-year run with the league for Aponte, a Staten Island native who had been the NFL’s chief administrator of football operations since 2017. Working with a team isn’t anything new for Aponte, however. Since beginning as an accountant in 1994, Aponte has garnered significant experience with the Jets, Browns and Dolphins.
In her seven years before joining the league office, Aponte held three different titles in Miami, including executive VP of football administration for five seasons. Joe Schoen, now the Giants’ general manager, was a Dolphins employee during Aponte’s entire tenure with the organization.
In 2024, eight years after leaving the Dolphins, Aponte interviewed for the Chargers’ GM job. Then seeking a replacement for the fired Tom Telesco, the Chargers went on to hire Joe Hortiz. The Jets also interviewed Aponte for their GM opening before hiring Darren Mougey last year, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post reports.
Aponte will now take on an important role in New York in replacing Kevin Abrams, whom the Giants let go last month after almost three decades with the franchise. Abrams’ ouster came shortly after the Giants hired head coach John Harbaugh, who has worked to reshape the organization early in his tenure.
Like Abrams, Aponte is known as a skilled contract negotiator. Aponte, who has a degree from New York Law School, will deal with matters related to contracts and the salary cap as a member of the Giants’ front office.
Jets Conduct Second OC Interview With Frank Reich
As coordinator hirings continue to take place around the league, the Jets appear to be nearing a decision for their OC gig. Frank Reich is set to conduct an in-person interview today, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports. 
Reich has already spoken with New York once, and this follow-up is a clear sign of mutual interest between the parties. As of one week ago, conversations between Reich and the Jets were progressing, so today’s update comes as little surprise. Per Rosenblatt and the New York Post’s Brian Costello, an OC hire could be made as early as Tuesday.
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn has made a number of changes to his staff recently. He initially kept 2025 offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand in the fold, but a demotion was in store. After discussing the matter, Glenn and Engstrand ultimately decided to part ways. The search for a new OC continues, but Reich is clearly a name to watch for New York.
The 64-year-old has been an NFL staffer dating back to 2006. He has worked as a coordinator on two occasions (Chargers 2014-15, Eagles 2016-17). Those stints led Reich to his first head coaching opportunity with the Colts. A run of almost five full years in Indianapolis was followed by a disastrous Panthers HC gig which lasted less than one season. Reich was dismissed late in the 2023 campaign, and he was out of coaching last year.
Glenn’s search for a new defensive coordinator recently resulted in a reunion with former Lions colleague Brian Duker. Early in the process of interviewing candidates, it did not appear as though Glenn would call plays on defense. That is now the expectation, however, something which made an impact on staffers like Don Martindale as they contemplated joining the Jets. An increased level of defensive involvement on Glenn’s part will make his OC hire particularly important.
New York finished 29th in both total and scoring offense in 2025. Improvement in many areas will be sought out during the offseason, with the quarterback position unsettled as things stand. Before a solution can be found on that front, a coordinator addition will need to be made. Reich could soon be in the fold, depending on how he fares in his second interview.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 2/2/26
Three teams signed players to reserve/futures deals on Monday. Here are the latest updates:
Dallas Cowboys
- QB Will Grier
Kansas City Chiefs
- QB Jake Haener
New York Jets
- DT Jack Heflin
Haener, 26, was offered a futures deal by the Saints, per Jeff Duncan of The Times Picayune, but sought a better opportunity instead. Kansas City may present one. The Chiefs only have one quarterback – Chris Oladokun – under contract for the 2026 season other than Patrick Mahomes, who will spend the next several months working his back from a torn ACL. Mahomes is unlikely to be ready for Week 1, so the Chiefs will be evaluating alternative quarterback options this offseason. It seems like Haener will be one of them.
AFC East Notes: Hall, Hill, Patriots, Bills
It is fairly well known the Jets have wanted to retain Breece Hall. After all, they rejected a Chiefs offer believed to include a fourth-round pick at the deadline. The Jets eyed at least a third, and they retained the four-year starter as he finished his first 1,000-yard rushing season. As the likely top running back set to be available in free agency, Hall could command a salary around $12MM per year. With Aaron Glenn continually speaking highly of the former second-round pick, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini mentions the franchise tag as a possibility to ensure he stays in New York. The running back tag is expected to cost more than $14MM, per OverTheCap, though precise tag figures are not yet known. The transition tag could also be a possibility, per Cimini. That is expected to come in just south of $12MM, though the Jets would not be entitled to any compensation if Hall signed an offer sheet and departed.
The Jets are projected to hold the fourth-most cap space, so a tag would be a way to ensure Hall does not bolt for a contending team. Rumors ahead of the deadline pointed to the RB wanting to be moved, though he denied he requested a trade. Here is the latest from the AFC East:
- Tyrod Taylor played out a two-year, $12MM Jets contract. After backing up Aaron Rodgers in 2024, Taylor began this season as Justin Fields‘ understudy. The team then turned to Taylor after Fields struggled, but by season’s end, overmatched rookie Brady Cook was taking snaps. A November report indicated the Jets were likely done with Taylor, but Essentiallysports.com’s Tony Pauline indicates the team has interest in re-signing him. If the Jets re-sign Taylor, he would be placed into a third offensive system in three years as the team hires a new OC. That, of course, would not be new for Taylor — a veteran of six teams during a 15-year career. The Jets retaining Taylor would give them some continuity as they search for a new starter.
- The NFL is investigating allegations from Tyreek Hill‘s wife, who has accused the All-Pro wide receiver of domestic abuse over an extended period. The league is reviewing parts of Hill’s deposition in his divorce case with Keeta Vaccaro, the Miami Herald’s Grethel Aguila notes. Vaccaro filed for divorce and alleged eight incidents of domestic violence. Hill is no stranger to such accusations. He was arrested in 2014, pleading guilty to assaulting his girlfriend in college, and was later the subject of an NFL investigation into abuse claims by the same woman — the mother of his oldest children — in 2019. Hill and Vaccaro’s divorce trial is expected to begin in June. Hill, 31, is expected to be a Dolphins cap casualty soon.
- Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore was arrested on a domestic assault charge late last year, and the Boston Globe’s Travis Anderson indicates the sixth-year defender’s arraignment has been pushed back to March. The arraignment was initially scheduled for Tuesday, but Barmore’s lawyer pushed for a delay. This will prevent Barmore from making a court appearance during Super Bowl week. Any suspension for the high-priced D-lineman would likely come before or during the 2026 season.
- Jordan Phillips has enjoyed three stints with the Bills, returning after being released by the Cardinals and Cowboys. Phillips’ third Bills stay came after the Cowboys moved on midway through the 2024 season; he re-signed with Buffalo in August. The veteran defensive tackle spent the past two years in Buffalo and does not want to relocate again if he continues his career. Phillips, 33, is amenable to continuing his career but only wants to do so in Buffalo, ESPN.com’s Alaina Getzenberg tweets.
Greg Roman, Darrell Bevell Among Finalists For Jets’ OC Job
FEBRUARY 1: It appears Bevell is another finalist. Josina Anderson of The Exhibit reports that Bevell will take an in-person interview with the Jets on Monday.
JANUARY 31: After parting with offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand on Tuesday, the Jets plan to narrow their search for his replacement down to three finalists, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. The list includes Greg Roman, who will have an in-person interview with the Jets early next week.
The 53-year-old Roman, one of five candidates to interview virtually with the Jets, is in the running alongside Frank Reich, Darrell Bevell, Ronald Curry and Lunda Wells. Given his vast experience as an offensive coordinator, it’s no surprise Roman is under serious consideration to replace Engstrand, who had never held the role until Glenn hired him last year.
Roman, a longtime Jim Harbaugh assistant, worked in the NFL as his O-coordinator in San Francisco from 2011-14 and rejoined him over the past two years with the Chargers. Between then, Roman served as a coordinator in Buffalo (2015 until an early season firing in 2016) and Baltimore (2019-22). Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick, Tyrod Taylor, Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert are among the quarterbacks who have performed well under Roman.
With Roman at the helm in Los Angeles this season, Herbert put together his second Pro Bowl campaign. However, after Herbert and the Chargers’ offense fared horribly in a 16-3 loss to the Patriots in the wild-card round, Harbaugh replaced Roman with Mike McDaniel.
Taylor is now a Jet, but as a soon-to-be free agent, his future is uncertain. While Justin Fields and Brady Cook are under contract for next season, it’s doubtful either will factor into the Jets’ Week 1 plans in 2026. Despite handing the mobile Fields a guaranteed $30MM on a two-year deal last offseason, expectations are the Jets will release him in the coming weeks. Head coach Aaron Glenn benched Fields for the rest of the year in mid-November.
With all three of their QBs posting lackluster results in 2025, the Jets easily had the worst passing offense in the NFL. That helped lead to 29th-place finishes in both scoring and total offense. The Jets ranked a much more respectable 10th in rushing, but their No. 1 back, Breece Hall, is due to become a free agent on the heels of his first 1,000-yard season. As a run-first coordinator, Roman may prefer to keep Hall.
Whether the Jets hire Roman or someone else, it’s imperative for Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey to give their next coordinator more talent than Engstrand had at his disposal in 2025. Star wide receiver Garrett Wilson, tight end Mason Taylor, and the tackle tandem of Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou are foundational pieces who are sure to return next season, but there’s plenty of room for improvement around them.