O’Neil, 47, has long-running ties to Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. Glenn and O’Neil first crossed paths with the Jets in 2012, when Glenn was a personnel scout and O’Neil served as the Jets’ assistant defensive backs coach. The two later worked together with the Browns in 2014–15, with Glenn the assistant DB coach and O’Neil the defensive coordinator. When Glenn joined the Lions as DC, he brought O’Neil aboard in 2024 as a defensive assistant and safeties coach.
Two coaches have been eliminated from the Jets’ search as they sort through candidates. In addition to O’Neil, Mathieu Araujo—who was the Dolphins’ cornerbacks coach during his Jets DC interview—has departed the race after taking a role with the Jacksonville Jaguars. That leaves six names still in consideration for the Jets’ DC vacancy.
Remaining candidates in the Jets’ DC pool are: Ephraim Banda (Cleveland Browns safeties coach); DeMarcus Covington (Green Bay Packers defensive line coach and run game coordinator); Daronte Jones (Minnesota Vikings defensive pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach); Jim Leonhard (Denver Broncos assistant head coach and defensive pass game coordinator); Wink Martindale (former Michigan defensive coordinator); and Chris Harris (Jets interim DC).
Three in-person interviews have occurred for the next round, with Martindale, Jones, and Harris reported as the finalists in second interviews over the past week. Jets officials may have additional, undisclosed finalists as they maintain a measured, in-house approach to filling the vacancy.
This remains a developing story, with updates expected as the Jets conduct further interviews and the Lions’ hiring decisions take shape. The report cited here originates from Heavy Sports.
