In 2025, the New York Jets’ defense was expected to be the team’s backbone.
That could not have been further from the truth.
Gang Green’s defense finished the year ranked 31st in both DVOA and points allowed per game (29.6). They became the first unit in league history to record zero interceptions and also ranked last with four takeaways.
Many changes will be needed this offseason to rebuild this unit, including finding the right defensive coordinator after Steve Wilks was fired in-season.
Without wasting anymore time, let’s dive into how the Jets can rebuild their defense this offseason.
Coaching Changes
Hire Al Harris as defensive coordinator
On Thursday, we highlighted the two key traits New York must prioritize this offseason as they search for their next DC.
Al Harris, the Chicago Bears’ defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator, checks both boxes.
A former All-Pro cornerback, Harris’ track record since entering the league’s coaching ranks is highly impressive.
After joining the Dallas Cowboys’ coaching staff in 2020 as their defensive backs coach, he helped quickly rebuild one of the league’s weakest secondaries into a top group.
In 2020, Dallas ranked 17th in pass defense DVOA while picking off just seven passes, the fewest in the league.
By 2021, the Cowboys’ pass defense was one of the league’s best. They skyrocketed all the way up to second in pass-defense DVOA while leading the league in interceptions with 26, a 19-interception increase from the year prior, while going from dead last in the rankings all the way to the top in one season. That is highly impressive.
Under Harris’ watch, Trevon Diggs made his name known, reeling in a league-high 11 picks. Just a couple of seasons later, DaRon Bland set a career high and led the NFL with nine interceptions in 2023.
After joining the Bears’ coaching staff this offseason, results have once again been evident immediately.
Chicago finished the regular season with a league-high 23 interceptions under Harris’ coaching, after hauling in only 11 last year, which ranked 22nd in the league.
Harris’ schematic philosophy aligns with that of Jets head coach Aaron Glenn. To boot, the former Green Bay Packers star has a stellar development track record, making him a perfect fit to be the Jets’ next defensive coordinator.
Pursue a change at linebackers coach
While all three levels of New York’s defense struggled mightily in 2025, the linebackers may have been the most exploitable unit on the field.
Was all of it the fault of linebackers coach Aaron Curry? Certainly not, but it would be smart to consider a change after Curry’s unit put in a highly disappointing performance in 2025.
The most concerning part of the linebackers’ struggles this past year is how significantly they regressed. The Jets had talent at the position; their players just did not perform anywhere close to their previous standards.
After winning the team’s Curtis Martin Team MVP award last season and being rewarded with a three-year, $45 million extension, defensive captain Jamien Sherwood was one of the league’s worst linebackers in coverage.
The same can be said about Quincy Williams, who wasn’t as dominant as Sherwood the year prior but was a serviceable starter. Under Curry’s watch, however, he also ranked among the NFL’s worst linebackers according to Pro Football Focus’ coverage grade.
With a new DC looming, changes to the team’s defensive coaching staff are expected, and the Jets would be wise to make changes at the positional level.
Hire Zach Orr as linebackers coach
After two mediocre seasons as the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive coordinator, Zach Orr is expected to be available this offseason after John Harbaugh’s dismissal.
It is not expected that Orr will land a DC job, making the former undrafted linebacker a perfect option to replace Curry.
This offseason, the Jets must pursue defensive coaches with a proven track record of player development, and Orr offers that. During his time with the Ravens, he helped develop linebackers such as Patrick Queen, while elevating Roquan Smith’s production.
Play-calling experience and a viable development track record make Orr a perfect fit to be the Jets’ next linebackers coach.
Pursue a change at defensive line coach
After going one-and-done as the Chicago Bears’ defensive coordinator, Eric Washington was brought in as the Jets’ defensive line coach through his relationship with then-defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.
It was a rocky season for the Jets’ defensive line, featuring regression from several players, most notably Will McDonald. With Wilks no longer in the picture, it makes sense for the Jets to move in a new direction with their defensive line.
Hire Dennis Johnson as DL coach
Similar to Orr, Dennis Johnson is expected to hit the open market after the Baltimore Ravens fired John Harbaugh.
Johnson spent the past two seasons as the Ravens’ defensive line coach after a four-year stint in the same role at Baylor.
Under Johnson’s watch in 2024, the Ravens’ defense allowed the NFL’s fewest rushing yards per game (80.1), while ranking second in total sacks (54).
Assuming he becomes available, Johnson is a proven option whom the Jets should be eager to target. It is also worth noting that he has a direct connection to Orr, making them intriguing as a tandem.
Key free agent additions
Sign LB Alex Anzalone, 2 years, $13M
With Quincy Williams expected to test free agency this offseason after a disastrous 2025 season, the Jets need a heavy-hitting type of linebacker, and Alex Anzalone offers that skill set.
Anzalone has a close connection to Glenn, spending eight consecutive years together (2017-24). He played under the now-Jets head coach for four years in Detroit, while two also overlapped on the Saints’ defense for four years.
Despite being 31 years old, Anzalone remains a solid starter. In 16 games this past season, Anzalone totaled 95 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, and nine passes defended. He graded above-average in coverage, ranking 25th out of 94 qualifiers in PFF’s coverage grade (65.3).
At 6-foot-3 and 234 pounds, Anzalone’s physicality and veteran instincts in coverage make him the perfect player to complement Jamien Sherwood.
Sign S Kevin Byard, 1 year, $7M
In 2025, the Jets’ safety room was among the league’s worst. It will be one of the team’s priorities this offseason.
Byard, 32, was one of the league’s best safeties this season. He led the position with seven interceptions, which was not only two more than any other safety, but seven more than the Jets had as a team. (Sorry, folks, I understand the pain, but I had to throw that in there.)
Adding in 93 total tackles, Byard earned first-team All-Pro honors for the third time in his career.
In this scenario, Byard would be reuniting with Al Harris, his DBs coach from Chicago.
Sign DL John Franklin-Myers, 3 years, $27M
Franklin-Myers made a name for himself amongst Jets fans with a successful run in New York from 2020 to 2023.
Appearing in 65 games with the Jets, he recorded 17.5 sacks, 61 quarterback hits, and 205 total pressures.
During the NFL draft in 2024, the Jets dealt Franklin-Myers to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a late-round draft pick. Since being traded, though, Franklin-Myers has only gotten better.
In 33 games with Denver, 31 of which were starts, the Stephen F. Austin product has compiled 65 total tackles while securing 14.5 sacks. He set a career-high with seven sacks in 2024 and beat it again with 7.5 in 2025.
Standing at 6-foot-4 and 288 pounds, Franklin-Myers has the versatility to play on the inside and outside of the defensive line, making him a chess piece that would be maximized in Aaron Glenn’s defense. Franklin-Myers can provide the sizable frame that Glenn prefers on the edge while kicking inside on pass downs to rush the passer.
A reunion with JFM makes a ton of sense for the organization.
Key draft selections
No. 2 overall: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
After two years of steady production, Bain Jr.’s 2025 season firmly put him in the conversation as a top prospect in this year’s NFL draft.
As a pass rusher, Bain has logged 80 pressures this season, ranking second among all FBS defenders. What makes him special, though, is his two-way dominance. Bain is the only player ranked top-five among Power Four edge rushers in both PFF’s pass-rush grade (92.4) and run defense grade (87.1).
With Bain and Franklin-Myers aboard to handle early-down reps on the edge, the Jets can slide Will McDonald into a situational role as a third-down pass rusher, allowing them to get the most out of the former first-round pick.
No. 44 overall: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
While I have the Jets adding Byard in this scenario, that shouldn’t stop the Jets from using one of their second-round picks on a top safety in this year’s draft class. New York needs two starters at the position.
Thieneman has the versatility to play free safety and down in the box. In 2025, he logged 214 snaps in the box and 450 at free safety.
Throughout 15 games this season, the 21-year-old compiled 96 total tackles (44 solo) along with 3.5 sacks and two interceptions. He was one of the nation’s best safeties in coverage, as his outstanding 91.1 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus ranks second among qualified FBS safeties.
Selecting Thieneman would give the Jets a young, versatile safety who can impact the game at every level, while adding to a long-term foundation on the back end.
Complete blueprint
Defensive coordinator: Hire Al Harris
LB coach: Swap Aaron Curry for Zach Orr
DL coach: Swap Eric Washington for Dennis Johnson
Sign LB Alex Anzalone
Sign S Kevin Byard
Sign DL John Franklin-Myers
Draft EDGE Rueben Bain Jr.
Draft S Dillon Thieneman
With these moves, the Jets’ defense would have the pieces it needs to undergo a major turnaround in 2026.