The New York Jets’ list is growing smaller by the day.
ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter shared on social media that the Washington Commanders were finalizing a deal to hire Minnesota Vikings defensive pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach Daronte Jones as the new defensive coordinator.
“Jones has been one of Brian Flores’ most trusted defensive coaches the past three seasons, and he also has coached under Vance Joseph and Mike Zimmer,” Schefter added.
Jones was a finalist for the Jets’ DC role. He initially interviewed with the team over Zoom, and then this week he interviewed in-person.
Jets List Continues to Shrink
The green and white originally spoke with eight people virtually in the first wave of DC interviews. That list is now down to five eligible bachelors.
On Monday, January 26, a pair of assistants who were in the running for the job were eliminated from the race.
Detroit Lions assistant Jim O’Neil agreed to a new contract to stay in the NFC North. Jones took the DC job in Washington.
Finally, former Miami Dolphins coach Mathieu Araujo took a job with the Jacksonville Jaguars last week.
That means there are only five possible candidates left for the Jets. That group includes interim DC Chris Harris, Denver Broncos assistant head coach and defensive pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard, longtime coach Wink Martindale, Cleveland Browns safeties coach Ephraim Banda, and Green Bay Packers D-Line coach and run game coordinator DeMarcus Covington.
Interesting Martindale Update
A strong favorite for the DC role, according to the Jets beat, has been Martindale.
However, a new update from NFL Insider Connor Hughes of SNY has raised eyebrows.
“The Jets & Wink Martindale are working through things, per sources. Time will tell if this leads to, or breaks, a potential partnership. The two sides have been conversing in varying degrees for quite a while. Martindale, going into his visit on Saturday, was considered far & away the frontrunner. This hasn’t fallen apart (yet), but I don’t think he’s as much of a guarantee as it seemed a few days ago. Again: We’ll see,” Hughes explained on social media.
A Complete Pivot by AG Is Totally in the Cards
If Martindale landed the gig with the Jets, he would be at the controls on defense. However, if that potential pairing falls apart, head coach Aaron Glenn could go in a totally different direction.
“A lower profile coordinator, with Glenn calling the plays, is possible,” Hughes revealed.
“Coordinating candidates who spoke with the Jets recently, per sources, came away from those conversations believing Aaron Glenn wanted to call the plays on defense. There is a growing belief among league circles that Chris Harris (DC) and Glenn (calling the plays) is a direction the Jets are warming up to,” Hughes posted on X previously Twitter.
There is an outside perception that AG’s job is on the line ahead of the 2026 season. If that is true, AG could decide to bet on himself.
One of the reasons he even had a chance to become the Jets head coach was because of his work as the Lions’ DC over the last couple of years.
Perhaps calling his own number in a desperate time of need is exactly what the doctor ordered.
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