Aaron Glenn is turning to a connection from his time with the Detroit Lions as the New York Jets’ next defensive coordinator.
The Jets are hiring Miami Dolphins pass game coordinator and secondary coach Brian Duker as DC, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Duker, 36, spent the last two seasons with the Dolphins. He previously worked with the Lions during Glenn’s four-season tenure as defensive coordinator in Detroit.
He will replace defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, who was fired 14 games into the 2025 season.
The news comes amid major turnover on Glenn’s staff, which included the dismissal of former offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand on Tuesday.
The Jets had also reportedly fired quarterbacks coach Charles London, pass game coordinator Scott Turner, defensive line coach Eric Washington, linebackers coach Aaron Curry and defensive assistants Roosevelt Williams and Alonso Escalante, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini.
One of the most prominent members of Glenn’s coaching staff to remain in place so far is special teams coordinator Chris Banjo, who helped the Jets field one of the NFL’s best special team units despite their 3-14 record.
The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt reported Tuesday that Engstrand’s firing came after Glenn “changed course on his original plan for the offseason” over the last week.
According to Rosenblatt, those changes included Glenn becoming “more open to the idea of calling plays himself on defense.”
The Jets pivoted by landing on Duker, who was not among the eight DC candidates whose interviews had been officially announced by the franchise as of Jan. 16.
Last weekend, the franchise held a second in-person interview with Wink Martindale, who had experience as DC with the Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens and New York Giants.
The announcement of Duker’s hiring comes less than 24 hours after the Jets announced they had completed a virtual interview with him.
Duker’s previous experience has included working as a defensive analyst with the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens, as well as a safeties and defensive backs coach with the Lions before guiding the Dolphins’ secondary.
After the decision to turn to a first-time coordinator didn’t work out last season with Engstrand, the Jets will hope Glenn’s defensive experience and potential return to play-calling can hope Duker succeed in his DC debut at the NFL level next season.