The New York Jets are heading into a pivotal offseason, and after a 3-14 campaign that ended with a five-game skid, change isn't just welcome-it's necessary. With a fresh opportunity to reshape the coaching staff and retool a roster that underperformed across the board, the Jets are wasting no time getting to work.
One of the latest moves? Adding another piece to their defensive brain trust.
The Jets have hired Ryan Slowik as their new safeties coach. Slowik brings four years of experience from Miami, where he wore multiple hats on the Dolphins’ defensive staff.
He started as a senior defensive assistant in 2022, shifted to outside linebackers coach in 2023, and then served as the defensive backs coach and pass game specialist from 2024 to 2025. That kind of versatility-and recent experience coaching the secondary-should be a valuable asset for a Jets defense looking to rebound.
This move is part of a broader overhaul led by head coach Aaron Glenn, who’s entering his second season at the helm. After a rough 2025, Glenn made sweeping changes.
Offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks were both let go following the season, along with several assistants. The message is clear: status quo isn’t cutting it.
To lead the offense, the Jets turned to a seasoned veteran in Frank Reich. The former Panthers and Colts head coach is stepping in as offensive coordinator and is expected to call plays. Reich’s track record as a play-caller and quarterback developer could bring some much-needed stability and structure to a unit that struggled mightily last year.
On the defensive side, the Jets brought in Brian Duker as their new coordinator. Duker, like Slowik, comes over from Miami, where he served as a secondary coach and pass game coordinator from 2024 to 2025.
That overlap with Slowik’s time in Miami is no accident-there’s a clear effort here to bring in coaches with a shared vision and familiarity. With Glenn, Duker, and Slowik all contributing on defense, the Jets are building a staff that should communicate well and bring a cohesive strategy to the table.
Now comes the next phase: reshaping the roster. The Jets are armed with $83.26 million in cap space, giving them the flexibility to be aggressive in free agency.
That’s a significant war chest for a team looking to make a leap. Add to that 10 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft-including two first-round picks-and the Jets have the resources to make real noise this offseason.
For Glenn and his revamped staff, the focus will be on identifying the right pieces-especially on defense-that can fit their system and culture. With so much turnover on the coaching side, this is a rare opportunity to build something from the ground up.
The Jets have the tools. Now it’s about making the right moves.
One thing’s for sure: this offseason will go a long way in determining whether the Jets can finally turn the corner.