The Jets have cleaned house, firing most of their coaching staff, excluding head coach Aaron Glenn. One day after interviewing former Ravens assistant coach Brian Duker, the New York Jets are hiring him as their next defensive coordinator, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Wednesday.
Duker will replace Steve Wilks, who was fired on December 15. Duker will be a defensive coordinator for the first time in his career, but he is not expected to call plays. Glenn intends to take over defensive play-calling.
Another former Ravens assistant gets an opportunity as a DC elsewhere. Duker was one of many young defensive assistants (Mike Macdonald, Jesse Minter, Drew Wilkins) to come through Baltimore in recent years https://t.co/eh1pDD9Vzu
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) January 28, 2026
Duker was hired less than 24 hours after a virtual interview with the Jets.
New York parted ways with offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand on Tuesday, further shaking up the coaching staff.
Duker, 36, was most recently the passing game coordinator and secondary coach for the Miami Dolphins. He spent time with current Jets coach Aaron Glenn on the Detroit Lions' coaching staff from 2021-23, when Glenn was the defensive coordinator, and Duker was a rising assistant.
This season with Duker as an assistant under Anthony Weaver, the Dolphins ranked 24th in points allowed, 22nd in yards allowed, and 18th in passing defense in 2025. Duker will take over a Jets unit that ranked 31st in points allowed, 25th in yards allowed, and 17th in passing defense, while allowing the most passing touchdowns (36) and recording a record zero interceptions in 2025.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Jets hire Brian Duker as defensive coordinator
