What NFL insider 'heard' about Jets' Woody Johnson, Aaron Glenn rumors regarding big decision

The New York Jets' hiring of former Miami Dolphins passing game coordinator and secondary coach Brian Duker as their new defensive coordinator has generated far more headlines than was expected this past January. 

One report claimed that Jets head coach Aaron Glenn wanted to hire former New York Giants defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale for the job before Jets owner Woody Johnson made it clear that he wanted Glenn to coach the team's defense. For a mailbag published on Thursday, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated shared what he has learned about the situation. 

Did Woody Johnson have some say in Aaron Glenn's DC decision?

"I’ve heard an element of it was the owner looking at Glenn’s list of candidates and asking why he couldn’t just call the defense himself," Breer wrote. "The Jets, on Jan. 16, announced they’d conducted interviews with Martindale, Jim Leonhard, Chris Harris, Matheiu Araujo, Emphraim Banda, DeMarcus Covington, Daronte Jones and Jim O’Neil, then hired 36-year-old Brian Duker off a fired Dolphins staff 12 days later."

Martindale raised eyebrows last week when he said he felt that Glenn's hiring decision was taken "out of his hands." Later, New York sports radio legend Mike Francesa revealed that he heard that Jets general manager Darren Mougey had the final say in determining that Martindale wouldn't get the job. While Francesa added that Glenn and Mougey are "not getting along as well as everybody thinks," a Jets reporter has since poured cold water over that claim. 

Jets didn't have "the best" hiring process this offseason?

"Maybe Duker winds up being a home-run hire," Breer continued. "We’ll see. But the way the Jets got to him wasn’t the best, I’d agree with that, and did before Martindale shed light on their process."

At some point after springtime workouts get underway in April, reporters will be able to speak with at least Glenn and Mougey about all that did and/or didn't happen behind the scenes within the organization since the club finished the 2025 season with a record of 3-14. How Glenn and Mougey handle such questions could cause some to fear that this regime won't be able to eliminate the "same old Jets" mantra that has hovered over the franchise for roughly 15 years.