The New York Jets continue their comprehensive search for a new defensive coordinator, adding another name to their growing list of candidates. On Monday, the team announced it had completed a virtual interview with Brian Duker, currently serving as the Dolphins’ defensive pass game coordinator.
Duker brings a resume that’s steadily built through a decade of NFL experience, with a particular emphasis on secondary play and pass defense-two areas the Jets are clearly prioritizing in their next DC. He’s the ninth candidate to formally interview for the position, joining a mix of NFL assistants and college coordinators as the Jets cast a wide net in pursuit of the right fit.
Here’s where the Jets’ DC candidate list stands now:
- Ephraim Banda, Browns safeties coach
- DeMarcus Covington, Packers defensive line coach
- Jim Leonhard, Broncos assistant head coach/pass game coordinator
- Wink Martindale, Michigan defensive coordinator
- Chris Harris, Jets defensive backs coach
- Jim O’Neil, Lions defensive assistant
- Daronte Jones, Vikings defensive pass game coordinator (now with the Commanders)
- Mathieu Araujo, Dolphins cornerbacks coach
- Brian Duker, Dolphins defensive pass game coordinator
Duker’s coaching journey began with the Browns in 2015 as a defensive intern, a role that gave him his first taste of NFL operations. From there, he joined the 49ers in 2016 as a defensive analyst, sharpening his skills in film study and game planning.
His next stop came in Baltimore, where the Ravens brought him on as a defensive assistant in 2018. He transitioned into a defensive analyst role for the 2019 and 2020 seasons, gaining valuable experience in one of the league’s most respected defensive organizations.
In 2021, Duker joined the Lions under defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, initially as a defensive assistant. His work with the secondary earned him a promotion to safeties coach in 2022, and then to defensive backs coach in 2023. That upward trajectory continued in 2024 when the Dolphins hired him to oversee their pass defense and secondary, a key role in a division where stopping the pass is critical.
The Jets’ interest in Duker fits a clear theme in their search: young, ascending coaches with strong secondary backgrounds. With the AFC East boasting some of the league’s most explosive passing attacks, the Jets need a coordinator who can elevate their pass defense and maximize the talent already on the roster.
As the interview process unfolds, the Jets aren’t rushing the decision. They’ve assembled a diverse pool of candidates, ranging from seasoned veterans like Martindale to rising minds like Duker. The goal is clear: find the right leader to shape a defense that already has foundational pieces in place.
Duker’s resume shows a coach who’s earned every step, rising through the ranks by developing defensive backs and helping coordinate coverage schemes at a high level. Whether he lands the Jets job or not, his inclusion in the process speaks volumes about how he’s viewed around the league-and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in a coordinator role sooner rather than later.