Named defensive coordinator in January 2026, Brian Duker joins the New York Jets with 10 seasons of coaching experience in the NFL, including the last two seasons in Miami as the pass game coordinator/secondary coach (2024-25). Duker reunites with Head Coach Aaron Glenn, who he coached with in both Cleveland (2015) and Detroit (2021-23).

"During our time in Detroit, Brian consistently demonstrated a high football acumen and an aggressive approach to defense," Glenn said. "I'm confident that his energy and knowledge of the game will help elevate our players and push this team forward."

Part of top-10 defenses four different times in Baltimore (2018-20) and Miami (2024), Duker has helped 10 different players reach the Pro Bowl since 2018 while also working with six players that were selected to the PFWA All-Rookie team. Throughout his decade-long coaching career in the league, Duker has worked with eight active NFL head coaches, including time on staff with at least two different active head coaches in every season coached between 2015-23.

In Miami (2024), Duker helped the unit finish fourth in total defense, holding opponents to an average of 314.4 yards per game–their lowest mark in 15 seasons–in addition to the sixth-lowest third down conversion rate allowed (35.9%) that season. Under Duker, the secondary limited opposing passers to a 63.8% completion percentage and an 88.7 passer rating, both top-10 marks in the league.

Before arriving in Miami, Duker spent three seasons in Detroit serving in various roles under Glenn, then the defensive coordinator. He got his start with the Lions as a defensive assistant (2021), before being promoted to safeties coach (2022), and then defensive backs coach (2023), contributing to a turnaround that delivered the Lions a division title en route to a conference championship appearance (2023), both their first in 30 years.

As the defensive backs coach in Detroit (2023), the Lions allowed the 10th lowest completion percentage, finishing the season with 76 passes defensed, the 10th most. Duker led a defensive backs room that saw three different players each register at least three interceptions.

Duker also played a major role in the development of the Lions young talent, as safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch registered four and three interceptions respectively as rookies (2022 and 2023), despite neither player being selected in the first round. In their final season with Duker (2023), the duo became one of only two safety tandems in the league with 70+ tackles and three+ interceptions each.

Prior to Detroit, Duker spent three seasons in Baltimore, where he served as a defensive staff assistant/coaching analyst (2018) and then a defensive coaching analyst (2019-20). Baltimore ranked top 10 in total defense in all three seasons.

Duker got his start in the NFL as a defensive intern with Cleveland (2015) and Glenn, then the Browns assistant secondary coach, before a year as a defensive analyst with San Francisco (2016).

A student assistant at his alma mater, Towson (2007-10), he began his coaching career at Bryant as a graduate assistant (2011), where he earned his MBA, followed by two seasons at Missouri as a graduate assistant (2013) and as a defensive quality control coach (2014). He helped the Tigers win the SEC East and advance to the SEC Championship in back-to-back seasons, totaling 23 wins, the most in a two-year stretch in program history, in addition to wins in the Cotton Bowl (2014) and Citrus Bowl (2015).

A Maryland native, Duker earned his bachelor's degree from Towson. He and his wife, CJ, have two sons.

FLIGHT PATH

New York Jets 2026-Present

Defensive Coordinator 2026-Present

Miami Dolphins 2024-25

Pass Game Coordinator/Secondary  2024-25

Detroit Lions   2021-23

Defensive Backs  2023

Safeties 2022

Defensive Assistant 2021

Baltimore Ravens 2018-20

Defensive Coaching Analyst 2019-20

Defensive Staff Assistant/Coaching Analyst 2018

San Francisco 49ers 2016

Defensive Analyst 2016

Cleveland Browns 2015

Defensive Intern 2015

Missouri 2013-14

Defensive Quality Control 2014

Graduate Assistant 2013

Bryant 2011

Graduate Assistant/Defense 2011