The New York Jets, the first team in NFL history to go an entire season without intercepting a pass, have picked former Miami Dolphins assistant Brian Duker as their new defensive coordinator.
Because Duker, 36, has no playcalling experience, coach Aaron Glenn is expected to take over that responsibility for the 2026 season — a significant shift from 2025. Glenn took a hands-off approach with his previous coordinator, Steve Wilks, whom he fired with three games remaining.
The Jets interviewed nine known candidates for the position, including longtime coordinator Wink Martindale, who was perceived as the early favorite after a second (in-person) interview Saturday.
Duker wasn’t one of the original eight candidates. He was a late addition, as his first interview (done virtually) didn’t occur until Tuesday. By then, only four of the original eight were still available. He landed the job in large part because of his background with Glenn.