The New York Jets need some help on their coaching staff, and they’re looking toward a couple of familiar faces – familiar to Michigan football fans, anyway.
The Jets, led by former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, announced on Friday, Jan. 16, they have completed virtual interviews with eight candidates for their open defensive coordinator position, with former Michigan defensive coordinator Wink Martindale and Lions defensive assistant Jim O’Neil among the eight candidates.
The Jets finished 3-14 and fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks on Dec. 15, three weeks before the end of the regular season.
Martindale most recently served as the defensive coordinator for Michigan football from 2024-25, but was not retained after the University fired coach Sherrone Moore. Martindale has plenty of NFL experience, serving as the defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos (2010), Baltimore Ravens (2018-21) and New York Giants (2022-23) before coming to Ann Arbor.
O’Neill, meanwhile, served as the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns (2014-15) and San Francisco 49ers (2016), well before joining the Lions. He also spent four years with the Jets as an assistant defensive coach from 2009-12.
Whoever becomes the Jets defensive coordinator will have their work cut out for them. The Jets dealt star cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts ahead of the 2025 trade deadline and were a bottom-10 defense in both yards allowed per game (355.6) and points allowed per game (29.6) this season.
Most infamously, the Jets became the first team since 1933, when the NFL began officially tracking the stat, to finish a full season without recording an interception.
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: New York Jets interview Wink Martindale and Jim O’Neil for DC role
