Jets Turn Coaching Staff Changes into Total Fiasco

 Nothing seems to get by the New York Jets when it comes to buffoonery, and the past several days have been a prime example. 

In short, the Jets fired seven assistant coaches, including parting ways with offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, all while hiring an inexperienced coach in Brian Duker, to become defensive coordinator in a series of bizarre events that have left many people scratching their heads.  

How did this happen? How did this get so incredibly bizarre?  

One has to go back to the firing of Steve Wilkes to begin to understand how messy things have gotten in Florham Park. The Jets fired Wilks as Defensive Coordinator back in early December, and it was not until just recently that they started to really dive into finding his replacement.  

From Jim Leonard to Wink Martindale, and seven other candidates in between the Jets made things very difficult for themselves. Early in the process it was reported by SNY's Connor Hughes that two high-profile candidates had rejected even interviewing for the job. That was backed up by The Athletic's Zach Rosenblatt who later reported that others were also telling the Jets in so many words: 'thanks, but no thanks.'

It was becoming clear that nobody wanted to work for a lame duck coach in Glenn.  

Over the weekend the Jets interviewed Martindale a second time, this time face-to-face, but the sides couldn't come to terms. According to reports Martindale had been in communication with Glenn since December, and it was believed he was going to run the defense. But when Martindale arrived the two sides couldn't agree to terms because Glenn wanted to call plays.  

It was an odd pairing to begin with. While Martindale enjoyed plenty of success early as a D.C. with the Baltimore Ravens from 2018-2021, his schemes grew stale in New York with the Giants, and there was even reports of a rift between he and ex-Giants coach Brian Daboll in 2024. 

So why would Glenn even consider Martindale, who has such an abrasive history? It was anyone's guess.  

Then came this past weekend. While most eyes were on the AFC and NFC Championship games, the Jets suddenly decided, now -- three weeks into the off-season -- to fire a number of assistants including defensive backs coach Dre Bly, quarterbacks coach Charles London, Defensive line coach Eric Washington, passing game coordinator Scott Turner, and linebackers coach coach Aaron Curry among others. 

Offensive Coordinator Tanner Engstrand had his role stripped of him, and was asked to take a lesser role. 

It was reported the Jets were in talks with ex-Colts Head Coach Frank Reich, an old teammate of Glenn's when Reich was the back-up quarterback for the Jets in 1995 and 1996, to become the Jets Offensive Coordinator. Keep in mind this was being done with Engstrand still in the building. It is not clear where talks are right now with Reich. 

By Tuesday night Engstrand and the Jets agreed to part ways. While Engstrand's offense wasn't great this past year, the Jets were ranked 29th, he was handcuffed to an awful quarterback situation. 

Next came a doozy. Late Tuesday it was reported that the Jets had reached to ex-Raiders and Buccaneers Head Coach Jon Gruden to see if he would be interested in joining the staff. Of course Gruden said 'no.' 

Who could blame him?  Why would a Super Bowl winning coach take a lesser role on a team with a coach who is clearly in over his head and on the hot seat. Talk about a terrible look. 

Then, finally, on Wednesday, January 28, the Jets hired Brian Ducker to become their defensive coordinator. 

Who's Duker you might ask? 

He worked with Glenn in Detroit, but he has zero experience calling plays, and comes from the offensive side of the ball as a passing game coordinator. How does that work with defense? It doesn't. Not to mention, the Jets hired him after off of one zoom call! There was no face to face interview, according to Rosenblatt.  Duker was the ninth candidate to interview for the job, and he got it. 

That is truly and utterly insane.  

So who is in control here? Is it all Aaron Glenn, who looks foolish? Is Darren Mougy laying any input into matters? How about the master of all things dysfunction: Woody Johnson? Did he have any say on what was happening? Fans across social media are taking turns blaming Glenn and Johnson for this mess. 

Here are the facts: the Jets are an untenable situation; nobody wants anything to do with them.  And until Woody Johnson comes to terms with that and finally after decades of ownership, puts his foot down and hires real football people to run the show, the Jets will continue to look like a clown car on fire.