The New York Jets are going back to the drawing board.
The Jets appeared to be closing in on a decision to hire their next defensive coordinator, but things have changed.
On social media, the team announced that they had completed a virtual interview with Miami Dolphins assistant Brian Duker for their DC vacancy.
“Duker (36) has spent the last two seasons with the Miami Dolphins as the team’s pass game coordinator/secondary coach. Prior to his stint in Miami, Duker spent three seasons with the Detroit Lions and HC Aaron Glenn, serving as the defensive backs coach (2023), safeties coach (2022), and defensive assistant (2021),” Jets editorial contributor Susanna Weir wrote in a press release.
New York Appear to Be Resetting Things
The green and white interviewed eight people during the first round of conversations to fill the DC role. Those interviews were all virtual.
“The DC candidate list will shorten for in-person interviews, which will happen in the near future,” Jets senior reporter Eric Allen explained on January 16.
This past week, the Jets started bringing people in for in-person interviews. In theory, these individuals who made it to the next round were considered finalists for the jobs as they participated in second interviews with the team.
After three in-person interviews, the Jets are now going back to the first round strategy with virtual conversations.
Insider Responds to This New Plot Twist
“He just came out of the blue for a virtual interview right after we found out that they were like kind of wavering on Wink Martindale. So that tells you that this job is still very open, I’d say. So maybe he hasn’t decided Chris Harris, maybe he hasn’t decided Wink Martindale, or Brian Duker, like I think he is trying to find somebody who is the best fit as a defensive coordinator while he calls plays,” Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic explained on “Jets Final Drive.”
“That happened right before the Tanner [Engstrand] news came out. My antenna went up about like so, maybe they haven’t decided at all who the defensive coordinator is. This search has been going on since they fired Steve Wilks,” Rosenblatt added.
What Went Wrong Between Jets and Wink Martindale?
“Wink was far and away the frontrunner for this job to the point when these conversations between Wink and Aaron Glenn were originally happening in December, once January came, it was believed to be like no this is going to happen … When Wink flew in for his in person interview, from what I have been told, the belief from that side was that this is getting done. This is just a formality. This is where your office is going to be, this is where the cafeteria is, and these are the nice restaurants in the area. Let’s cross some t’s and dot some i’s, and we’ll announce you in the next 48 hours,” NFL Insider Connor Hughes of SNY explained on “Jets Final Drive.”
“When Wink showed up, and again, this is going to be his word versus their word. The Jets can say this isn’t true, Wink’s side can say this is true, but basically, when he showed up, and they’re getting into the nitty-gritty, it was relayed to him that Aaron Glenn wanted to call the plays. I think that threw a wrench into this system,” Hughes revealed.
Despite this wrench, Martindale hasn’t refused to take the job or declined it, and nothing has been rescinded, according to Hughes.
However, it is at the point where it seems “unlikely” that Wink will take the job if he isn’t going to call plays.
Hughes has heard from one source that Wink desperately wants to get back into the NFL, and if the money and contract structure are right, it could make sense.
Jets Re-Open DC Search, Interview Dolphins Assistant for Vacancy