The New York Jets are starting to reshape their defensive staff, and they’ve made a strong first move by bringing in a seasoned voice up front. Karl Dunbar, a respected defensive line coach with deep NFL roots, is returning to Florham Park to take over the Jets’ defensive line - a unit that badly needs a reset after a brutal 2025 season.
Dunbar isn’t a stranger to the organization. He previously coached the Jets’ defensive line from 2012 to 2014 under Rex Ryan, and now he returns with even more experience under his belt - most recently spending eight years with Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
That kind of continuity in a franchise known for defensive toughness speaks volumes. Coaches who come out of Pittsburgh’s system tend to bring a certain edge, and Dunbar’s track record backs it up.
Let’s be honest: the Jets’ defensive front in 2025 was a problem. They ranked 29th in rushing yards allowed per game and 31st in sacks.
That’s near rock bottom in both trench categories, and it showed. The line struggled to generate pressure and couldn’t hold up against the run, which put even more strain on a defense that was constantly on its heels.
Enter Dunbar - a former NFL defensive lineman himself - who helped lead a Pittsburgh unit that finished sixth in the league with 48 sacks and 13th against the run. That’s not elite, but it’s solid, and more importantly, it’s consistent. And consistency is exactly what the Jets have been lacking.
Four-time All-Pro Cameron Heyward, one of the most respected voices in the league, didn’t mince words when talking about Dunbar’s impact.
“When you talk about Karl Dunbar, he’s just an unbelievable teacher,” Heyward said. “He takes time to really help you study.
I can definitely say that he helped me continue to grow in my development as a player and as a person off the field. What we do throughout the week is what you get in the game.
It allows us to stay consistent because he’s so good.”
That’s high praise from a player who’s been the heartbeat of the Steelers’ front seven for years. And it’s not just about the X’s and O’s - Dunbar brings a teacher’s mentality, something the Jets sorely need as they try to develop their young talent.
This is also a big win for new defensive coordinator Brian Duker and head coach Aaron Glenn, who’s had a rocky start to his tenure when it comes to building out his staff. With 10 new head coaches across the league this cycle, the competition for top assistants has been fierce. Landing someone with Dunbar’s résumé - especially in a year where so many staffs are being rebuilt - is no small feat.
Dunbar’s coaching lineage is impressive. Before his long run in Pittsburgh, he worked under Nick Saban at Alabama, helping mold future NFL talent in one of the most competitive college environments in the country.
He also broke into the NFL with the Chicago Bears back in 2004 under Lovie Smith. That’s a who’s who of defensive minds, and Dunbar’s been in the room with all of them.
The Jets still have work to do. Glenn and Duker need to round out the rest of the defensive staff - particularly at linebacker and in the secondary, where Chris Harris could use more support.
But bringing in Dunbar is a tone-setter. It signals that the Jets are serious about fixing a defense that fell flat in 2025.
If Dunbar can help unlock the potential of this defensive line - and the Jets can complement him with a few more smart hires - then maybe, just maybe, this unit can start to turn the corner.