As the Miami Dolphins are constructing their coaching staff under the new leadership of Jeff Hafley, a prominent assistant coach from the previous group is getting a bump up with a division rival.
The New York Jets are hiring Brian Duker as defensive coordinator, according to multiple reports Wednesday morning.
Duker was the Dolphins’ defensive pass game coordinator and coached the secondary the past two seasons under former coach Mike McDaniel and defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.
Duker has ties to Jets coach Aaron Glenn back when the two were together on the Detroit Lions’ defensive staff. The two are now reunited in the Meadowlands.
Duker was instrumental in Miami in keeping the secondary together despite the unit mostly getting thrown together each of the past two seasons. In 2024, newcomers in cornerback Kendall Fuller and safety Jordan Poyer didn’t have preseason time working together with cornerback Jalen Ramsey and safety Jevon Holland, both returning at the time from the previous defense.
Last season, the Dolphins had an entirely new-look secondary of cornerbacks Rasul Douglas and Jack Jones and safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Ashtyn Davis and rookie Dante Trader Jr.
Miami wasn’t expected to retain Duker under Hafley, as he is already hiring Ryan Downard, whom he had in Green Bay, to coach defensive backs.
Another candidate from the previous Dolphins staff who interviewed for the Jets’ defensive coordinator job was cornerbacks coach Mathieu Araujo, who has since reportedly been hired by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Along with Downard, Hafley has reached agreements with new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, who was already on staff as senior passing game coordinator, special teams coordinator Chris Tabor and wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert.
On Wednesday, Miami reportedly agreed to terms with Ladell Betts as running backs coach and Zach Yenser as offensive line coach.
The Dolphins are losing former offensive line coach Butch Barry to the Los Angeles Chargers, where McDaniel is now offensive coordinator.