The New York Jets have officially filled their defensive coordinator vacancy, hiring Brian Duker-formerly the Miami Dolphins’ defensive pass game coordinator and secondary coach-to join Aaron Glenn’s staff. It’s a move that comes after a winding and, frankly, chaotic search process, but the end result might actually make a lot of sense for what the Jets are building.
Let’s start with how we got here. Early in the process, all signs pointed toward veteran coordinator Wink Martindale landing the job.
The Jets seemed to be closing in on a deal with the former Ravens and Giants DC, and it looked like they were ready to hand him the reins. But over the weekend, that plan fell apart.
The turning point? Glenn made a late pivot-deciding that he wanted to call the defensive plays himself.
That changed the entire dynamic of the search. Rather than bring in a seasoned play-caller, the Jets were now looking for a coordinator who could support Glenn’s vision without needing to run the defense on Sundays.
Enter Brian Duker.
The Jets brought Duker in for a virtual interview on Tuesday, and by Wednesday morning, the deal was done. It’s a quick turnaround, but Duker’s résumé fits what the Jets are looking for right now. He’s not a splashy hire, but he’s a strong fit for a very specific role.
Duker has spent the last two seasons in Miami, where he helped guide a Dolphins secondary that consistently punched above its weight. Despite dealing with injuries and a rotating cast of characters, Duker got solid contributions from veterans like Rasul Douglas and Jack Jones-neither of whom were even on the roster when training camp opened. That kind of adaptability and development is exactly what the Jets need as they look to build out their defensive identity under Glenn.
He’s also no stranger to the NFL grind. Duker has logged a decade of experience as a defensive assistant, steadily climbing the ladder.
While he hasn’t called plays at the pro level-a common benchmark for DC candidates-he won’t be asked to do that in New York. That responsibility now belongs to Glenn, and that’s by design.
In fact, having Glenn take over play-calling duties adds another layer to his evaluation as a head coach. If the Jets are going to chart a new course under Glenn, it makes sense for him to take full ownership of the defense.
This way, the organization gets a clearer picture of what kind of leader they have. And if things go south, at least they’ll know it was with Glenn steering the ship.
Make no mistake-this wasn’t a coaching search filled with top-tier options. The Jets weren’t in position to land someone like Jim Leonhard or Daronte Jones.
But given the circumstances, Duker is a solid outcome. He’s young, experienced, and has shown he can get the most out of his players.
That’s more than you can say for some of the other names floated during this process, including Martindale, Chris Harris, and Jim O’Neil.
In the end, the process was bumpy, but the hire itself is a win. The Jets now have a defensive coordinator who fits the structure they’ve put in place, and Glenn gets to run the defense his way. Brian Duker might not be a household name, but he’s a smart addition to a staff that’s clearly betting on its own vision.