With the hiring of defensive coordinator Brian Duker on Wednesday afternoon, the New York Jets concluded a month-long process to search for a new leader in the defensive locker room.
Of course, Duker’s appointment doesn’t mean he will be the one calling plays on gameday. Duker, 36, has never called plays at any level.
With the hiring of an inexperienced coach in Duker, it appears likely that Glenn is planning to call defensive plays for the Jets in 2026. It concludes a year-long saga in which the first-time head coach refused to take play-calling away from Steve Wilks, who was ultimately fired.
While he may not be calling plays, Glenn and the Jets still believe Duker will be an instrumental part of the coaching staff moving forward.
Glenn explains hire of new defensive coordinator
In a statement following the announcement, Glenn explained his thought process behind hiring Duker, citing his familiarity with Duker across three years in Detroit.
“During our time in Detroit, Brian consistently demonstrated a high-football acumen and an aggressive approach to defense,” Glenn said. “I’m confident that his energy and knowledge of the game will help elevate our players and push this team forward.”
Duker is still only 36 years old, but he has been coaching in the NFL since 2015, when he joined the Cleveland Browns as an intern. He also spent time with the Baltimore Ravens under Wink Martindale (2018-20). Over the last two years, he was the defensive pass game coordinator and secondary coach for the Miami Dolphins.
The Jets wanted to bring in someone familiar with Glenn’s system. Duker has plenty of coaching experience with the kind of scheme the team will want to play in 2026. As a non-play-calling DC (in all likelihood), his primary responsibilities will be assisting Glenn with game planning and implementing the team’s strategies in practice.
Time will tell if Duker can provide enough to keep the Jets defense afloat with Glenn calling plays. But in a make-or-break year for Glenn, he knows that he needs people who understand his overall plan for his team. Duker fits the bill.