The Jets have finalized their defensive and special teams coaching staff for their inaugural season under head coach Aaron Glenn, per a team announcement.
Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks and special teams coordinator Chris Banjo were in place by the end of January, but it took a few more weeks to finalize their staffs. Several of the Jets’ position coach hires have already been reported, but the team has since added several assistants.
Among them is former Rams and Lions cornerback Dré Bly, who is joining the Jets as an assistant defensive backs coach. He spent the last season in Detroit as a cornerbacks coach and will now follow Glenn to New York.
Cameron Davis, the Lions’ assistant defensive line coach for the last three seasons, is also sticking with Glenn. Davis will take the same position with the Jets under defensive line coach Eric Washington.
Glenn is retaining Nathaniel Willingham on his new staff, albeit in a new position. After coaching nickelbacks in 2024, Willingham will now be the Jets’ assistant linebackers coach. He previously served as a defensive assistant in 2022 and 2023 before a stint in Denver as a defensive quality control coach.
Alonso Escalante is returning to the NFL as a defensive assistant with a focus on nickels. He spent the last two years in the high school ranks, but he has eight years of pro experience with five different teams. Most recently, he was the Panthers’ assistant running backs coach in 2021.
Former Bears, Broncos, and Browns cornerback Roosevelt Williams is taking his first job in the NFL as a defensive assistant. He has spent the last 15 years at the college level and was the cornerbacks coach for Houston Christian University in 2024.
On special teams, the Jets aded Kevin O’Dea as an assistant. He has almost three decades of experience in the NFL, including a previous stint with the Jets as special teams coordinator in 2008 and 2009.