The Jets on Friday made it clear they’re well underway in their search for a defensive coordinator, announcing that they’ve interviewed eight candidates for their vacant post.
Head coach Aaron Glenn needs to get this hire right after his first choice, Steve Wilks, didn’t mesh with his program and was fired during the season.
Among those interviewed are Dolphins cornerbacks coach Mathieu Araujo, Browns safeties coach Ephraim Banda, Packers defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington, Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones, Broncos defensive pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard, Michigan defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, Jets defensive backs coach Chris Harris and Lions defensive assistant Jim O’Neil.
Because Glenn is entering 2026 on a short leash based on the 3-14 record in his first season, this is a potentially complicated the search — particularly with so many open head coaching jobs.
Martindale, who was Michigan’’s defensive coordinator last season, and coached the Giants defense, is intriguing because of his extensive NFL experience. And he’s known to be aggressive in his schemes, which is something Glenn said he wants out of his DC.
Covington has recent DC experience in New England. Jones is widely viewed as Vikings DC Brian Flores’ right-hand man and a future coordinator.
Leonhard is a former Jet with ties to Glenn. He is in his second season with the Broncos, who had one of the best defenses in the NFL this past season, and first as their defensive pass game coordinator/assistant head coach for one of the top defenses in the NFL this season.
Araujo, who was the Dolphins cornerback coach the last two seasons, has spent the last four seasons with Miami after coaching seven years in college, and Banda coached the Browns’ safeties from 2023-25.
Covington was hired as the Packers’ defensive line coach/run game coordinator last February for the 2025 season after spending eight seasons with the Patriots, including one as defensive coordinator in 2024.
Harris took over as the Jets’ defensive coordinator for the final three games of the regular season after the team fired Wilks. Before the firing, he was the Jets’ defensive backs coach/pass game coordinator this past season, a role he also had with the Titans two seasons prior.
Jones just finished his fifth season with the Vikings as defensive backs coach and third as passing game coordinator.
O’Neil, who worked under Glenn when he was the Lions’ defensive coordinator, just completed his second season with Detroit after adding safeties to his defensive assistant title in 2025.
This may not be the full field of candidates for the Jets because it’s possible they are waiting out a number of other candidates as the litany of head coach openings are filled.