Months after firing Steve Wilks, Gang Green finally has a new defensive coordinator.
A day after interviewing him for the role, the Jets hired Brian Duker,
The expectation is that Aaron Glenn will be the Jets defensive playcaller next season. During his first season as coach, Glenn gave that responsibility to Wilks, who was fired following a Week 15 loss to the Jaguars.
Chris Harris, who was the interim defensive coordinator for the Jets in their final three games of the season, is expected to remain on Glenn’s staff.
Duker, 36, spent the last two years as the Dolphins passing game coordinator and secondary coach. Before his time in Miami, Duker was on the Lions coaching staff from 2021-23, when Glenn was also the team’s defensive coordinator. Duker initially served as a defensive assistant on Dan Campbell’s staff before being promoted to Detroit’s safeties coach (2022) and defensive backs coach (2023).
On Tuesday, the Jets conducted a virtual interview with Duker, who was their ninth known candidate for the position. Duker landed the position in part because of his relationship with Glenn.
“During our time in Detroit, Brian consistently demonstrated a high football acumen and an aggressive approach to defense,” Glenn said in a statement. “I’m confident that his energy and knowledge of the game will help elevate our players and push this team forward.”
Former Ravens and Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale was once considered the favorite for the position. Martindale met with the Jets for a second interview last week, but no deal was reached.
This will be the first time Duker has been a defensive coordinator at the NFL level. In addition to his experience with the Dolphins and Lions, he began his NFL career as a defensive intern with the Browns in 2015, later served as a defensive analyst with the 49ers in 2016, and spent three seasons with the Ravens (2018-20).
Glenn and Duker have a lot of work to return the Jets, who finished 3-14, to their defensive standard. Following three consecutive years in which their unit finished in the top five in yards allowed, the Jets defense was one of the worst in the NFL in 2025. They ranked 25th in yards allowed (355.6) and next-to-last in scoring defense (29.6).
Gang Green’s defense also registered the fewest turnovers in the league last season (three). In addition, the Jets became the first team in NFL history to finish a season without recording a single interception.
The Jets coaching staff under Glenn has undergone several changes this offseason. Last week, the Jets fired quarterbacks coach Charles London, pass game coordinator Scott Turner, linebackers coach Aaron Curry, defensive line coach Eric Washington, assistant defensive backs coach Dre Bly, defensive assistant Alonso Escalante and defensive assistant Roosevelt Williams. The Jets also parted ways with offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand on Tuesday.