The New York Jets didn’t take long to make a decision on their defensive coordinator search. Less than a day after meeting with Brian Duker, the team moved quickly to bring him aboard, naming the 36-year-old assistant as its new defensive coordinator.
Duker arrives from Miami, where he most recently served as the Dolphins’ passing game coordinator and secondary coach. His hiring reunites him with Jets head coach Aaron Glenn, whom he worked alongside in Detroit from 2021 to 2023 during Glenn’s tenure as the Lions’ defensive coordinator.
Glenn praised Duker’s football IQ and mindset, pointing to their shared time in Detroit as a foundation for the hire. He described Duker as an aggressive defensive thinker whose energy and understanding of the game can help push the Jets forward.
The Jets had interviewed Duker virtually as part of a wide-ranging search that included several experienced candidates, most notably longtime defensive coordinator Wink Martindale. Ultimately, New York opted for familiarity and upside with a younger coach on the rise.
Duker’s addition comes amid broader changes on the Jets’ staff. The team parted ways with offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand earlier this week, signaling a continued overhaul as Glenn reshapes the coaching structure heading into the new season.
