The New York Jets revealed a list of eight candidates that have interviewed for the franchise’s vacant defensive coordinator post.
Detroit Lions safeties coach Jim O’Neil was among the Jets’ list of eight that have interviewed for their DC opening. O’Neil, who also added the defensive assistant title with the Lions in 2025, has been with Detroit each of the past two seasons.
O’Neil, 47, has worked in the Jets organization before, serving as the Jets’ defensive quality control coach in 2009 when New York advanced to the first of what would be back-to-back AFC Championship games.
The Jets boasted the NFL’s No. 1 passing defense (153.7 passing yards per game), total defense (252.3 yards per game), and scoring defense (14.8 points per game) during that 2009 campaign.
We’ve completed virtual interviews with the following candidates for our defensive coordinator opening.
— New York Jets (@nyjets) January 16, 2026
In Detroit, O’Neil has overseen one of the league’s best safety tandems. During 2024, Kerby Joseph led the NFL in interceptions with nine en route to a first-team All-Pro honor. Meanwhile, Brian Branch earned Pro Bowl honors in 2024 after notching 109 tackles, 16 passes defended, eight tackles for loss, four interceptions and one sack.
The Lions allowed the second-fewest passing touchdowns (18) and registered the lowest opposition passer rating (82.0) during the 2024 season.
Of course, O’Neil worked under then-Lions defensive coordinator and now-Jets head coach Aaron Glenn during the 2024 season.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Detroit Lions safeties coach interviews with New York Jets for DC job