After a month of deliberation, the New York Jets announced the official changes to their coaching staff heading into the 2026 season.
From offensive alterations to overwhelming changes on the defensive side of the ball, the Jets are going to look much different from a coaching perspective in the new year. They’d better, considering Aaron Glenn’s rookie coaching season produced just three wins.
The team is entering a must-win season not only for Aaron Glenn, but potentially for general manager Darren Mougey as well. Fortunately for the Jets’ 2026 outlook, Glenn constructed a revamped coaching staff that is highly respected in NFL circles.
When the rubber meets the road, the Jets undoubtedly upgraded the coaching staff.
Jets’ top coaching newcomers
There were a lot of coaches brought in that Jets fans should be excited about. For example, linebackers coach Ben Boling was hired on Thursday and should provide optimism.
But when it comes to the three best hires, the focus shifts to a combination of what the Jets drastically needed and how much of an upgrade the current coach is over his predecessor.
In that case, the three names below fit that bill for the Jets in droves.
3. Ryan Slowik — safeties coach
Here is the list of players in the Miami Dolphins secondary Ryan Slowik worked with last season: Storm Duck, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ashtyn Davis, Jason Marshall, Jack Jones, and Rasul Douglas.
It’s safe to say that this isn’t the best group in the world here.
Yet the Dolphins’ pass defense finished 18th in yards and 21st in passing touchdowns allowed — certainly not as bad as the talent level may show.
Slowik deserves a lot of credit for his work in helping keep Miami afloat on defense. He’s a well-respected coach on that side of the ball and a massive upgrade over past coaches the Jets have used there.
New York will need to give Slowik quality players to work with, but this is a solid hire for the team as it tries to transform its secondary.
2. Seth Ryan — passing game coordinator
Frank Reich and Bill Musgrave each have clear, obvious questions about their sustainability in the modern NFL. That is why they can’t be on this list.
Ryan, however, is something different.
This season, the now-former Detroit Lions’ wide receivers coach and disciple of Ben Johnson will be the Jets’ passing game coordinator. He has been given a vote of confidence several times by the current Chicago Bears head coach.
That alone should get Jets fans excited about where the offense could be heading.
Pairing Reich’s and Musgrave’s old-school approaches with Ryan’s modern schematic plans will be very important for the Jets this season.
It’s the first time the team seems to understand the need to develop young quarterbacks while modernizing their scheme, which is a bonafide reason to be excited for what’s to come.
1. Karl Dunbar — defensive line coach
There isn’t a better Jets hire than this one: Snagging veteran Karl Dunbar to coach the defensive line again. After a stint with the Jets in the early 2010s, Gang Green was able to poach him from Pittsburgh this offseason.
Over his career, Dunbar has worked with quality starters like Muhammad Wilkerson, Cameron Heyward, T.J. Watt, Derrick Harmon, Alex Highsmith, and Sheldon Richardson. Having the ability to develop these top names isn’t just mere happenstance.
The New York Jets desperately needed someone who could develop young defensive linemen. They got arguably one of the best coaches to do exactly that, when Karl Dunbar agreed to return to 1 Jets Drive.