New FSPN Publication

In case you missed it, FSPN has published my new e-book, THE GENO FILES: Scouting the NFL’s Forgotten Quarterback, Geno Smith. With my Scouting Academy scout’s eyes, I scouted 68 games of All-22 film on ol’ Geno from 2021-2025. Not sure what to expect from the Jets’ new quarterback? Worried he’s gonna look like he did with the Tom Brady Raiders? Get your copy of my new e-book today to know EXACTLY what to expect by clicking the link below.

THE GENO FILES by Frankie

PS… the proprietary system outlined in the e-book, QUAK, is now being modified slightly for college quarterbacks coming into the draft. C-QUAK, if you will. So by next year, we’ll have new e-books published for guys like Dante “Mental Health” Moore, C.J. “The Schedule” Carr, Arch “The Starch” Manning, LaNorris “Mr. Tools” Sellers, Darian “Duke?” Mensah, etc. So stay tuned for that!

The Coordinators Speak!

Before the Jets broke for summer, both the players and the Coordinators spoke to the media, in addition to two sessions with HC AG.

OC Frank Reich spoke again about how much he loves Geno, and all that he brings to the table for this offense.

(For those worried about scheme, my strong suspicion is that 85% of the 2022-2024 Seattle playbook will be ported over here. AD plays the role of DK, Garrett plays the role of JSN, Cooper plays the role of Tyler Lockett. Our running backs are similar to what theirs were in that era, and our tight end room should be better than theirs, with them having the edge at wide receiver, unless Adonai finally breaks out, which I think he actually.)

“The FIRST name AG brought to me was Geno. I was ALL for it…” - Frank Reich

This is an interesting insight because there was a lot of speculation amongst the fan base as well as the lackluster #JetsBeat about who we would pursue this offseason as a veteran bridge option, once Dante Moore decided to go back to Eugene, OR. Some said Malik Willis, some said Kirk Cousins, some said Derek Carr, some said to trade for Mac Jones or Jacoby Brissett.

Derek Carr: OK, NFL, I’m back to being healthy and ready to go!

NFL: ***Crickets***

Derek Carr: Uhh, guys, hellooooooooooooo?

But after internal discussions, Mougey and Glenn came up with Geno as their prime objective at the most important position in sports. That provides even more evidence that they think he can be a multi-year starter here, even if we pick a QB in round 1 next year.

Flight 26, Now Boarding

The “Flight Series” by our incredible video production team, is back, with Flight 26. It’s awesome, so if you haven’t seen it yet, catch it here…

Ep. 1 (with lots of “indie” creator voices included, like Connor Rodgers, Joe Caparoso, Ian from JetsCentral, Matt O’Leary, etc.):

Ep. 2:

Ep 3:

Assessing the Beat

✍️ After watching all of the press conferences, I would grade the performance of the #JetsBeat as poor, F-. Repetitive questions, low energy, seem to hate their jobs, some seem like they are half-dead already (especially Brian “The Human Hot Pocket” Costello.) These are not the best people for these jobs.

🪦 Life is really too short to do a job you hate, so I would encourage “Country Club” Connor Hughes, Zack “The Hack” Rosenblatt, “Hot Pocket,” Andy Vazques, and the rest o’ dem bumz to find alternative employment immediately. Walking around in a half-dead zombie-coma covering a losing franchise just so you can say you’re better than the hoi polloi of Jets fandom is no way to live, really. It’s a death before death.

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Adonai Rising

🧾️ Adonai is a Hebrew word meaning, “my lord.” And MY LORD, is Adonai Mitchell gonna be special in this offense. As I mentioned above, I anticipate the Jets running a lot of what the Seahawks did in 2022-2024, and that means a ton of opportunities for Mitchy. DK got a ton of looks and had a ton of production in this offense, which enabled him to get a huge contract from the Steelers, post-trade. I would anticipate something similar for Mitchy but probably dialed back a touch because of the volume that Garrett Wilson is likely to see here. 🏈

Other smart people have noticed the man, as well:

Mandi-Mini Notes

🏉 Cade Klubnik was held back in mandatory minicamp due to back tightness, but this is of virtually no concern, unless it recurs over time. Klubnik will hopefully win the QB2 job when it is all said and done. HC AG said it would be an open competition with him, Bailey “Zippy” Zappe and Brady “He Did Not” Cook.

🏉 If Zappe wins the QB2 job, is that a concern? Not really, because if we feel we still need an improvement there, we can always scoop someone up after the 90-man cuts (August), where we have the second priority on the waiver wire or pick up a street free agent. Some teams are currently carrying 4 legitimate QBs and they’re unlikely to do so for the season.

“Klubnik will determine whether Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey add another veteran quarterback at some point. There aren’t any particularly appealing options left in free agency, with veterans Josh Dobbs and Cooper Rush the best available.” - Zack Rosenblather, Jets Beat Reporter Extraordinaire

🏉 WR Isaiah “All Day Zay” Williams is not someone the national pundits have mentioned much when discussing the Jets’ outlook for ‘26, but he’s reportedly getting more looks in the offense than anticipated, and making the most of his opps. Good to see. Weapons for dayz.

🏉 CB D’Angelo Ponds has been mentioned by the #beat as a standout, even securing an interception, which is rare around these parts. Seems like he is exactly as advertised and that is much needed on this team.

🏉 CB Azareye’h Thomas seems to be losing the second outside corner job to Nahshon Wright. That’s disappointing only in that Wright, coming off a 5-INT season, is on a one-year contract and you’d prefer Thomas emerge as a long-term corner for the club. Hopefully, AZ can turn it around in Training Camp, which begins in late July. But to be fair, the dumb beat writers are only saying Wright has been “making more plays” which doesn’t necessarily mean Thomas is playing poorly. If you blanket-cover your man and the QB throws elsewhere, for example, you don’t get a chance to “make plays.” So, we’ll see.

🏉 WR Omar Cooper has gotten some mentions by the #JetsBeat and he seems like he’ll be the modern version of Jeremy Kerley, but better. Kerley was the guy the QB could always look to on third downs to keep the chains moving. Coop should be similar, but with some added tackle-breaking skills added in for additional “leaky” yardage.

🏉 ED Kingsley Enagbare got shouted out by ESPN’s Dick Chimney on Friday. This is impressive only because D and O-Line are tough evals at this point in the process. So the King must be looking mighty quick out there, which is a good sign.

🏉 DT T’Vondre Sweat was a focus of Zack “The Hack” Rosenblatt of the Assletic.

“The Jets have a legitimate rotation at defensive tackle for the first time in a while with Sweat, Phillips, veteran David Onyemata and Jowon Briggs. But Sweat, at least potentially, feels like the key to it all.” - HackyZack

Sorsby the Story, B (Storysby?)

One advantage that QB Brendan Sorsby (not to mention the agent) has is that the timing of the Supplemental Draft, assuming there is one, is right in the midst of the NFL’s deadest of periods. So the media will have an opportunity to use it to “frenzy up” his draft stock, NFL outlook, etc., which is what they do best.

Even alleged liar and fabulist Jason La Canfora is up to his old tricks that keep getting him fired and throwing out anonymous “sources” saying various stupid things about the Jets and Sorsby. According to Wikipedia, La Canfora is a “binge eater” (a.k.a., a fat slob) with, apparently, impulse control issues:

La Canfora has been open about his struggles with binge eating; as spoken about on his afternoon radio show. La Canfora has partnered with local health agencies regarding gout prevention; and the importance of regular rheumatology appointments.

La Canfora is currently employed by SportsBoom.com, a website dedicated to sports gambling. Not exactly a hotbed of ethical journalism, natch.

As for The Sorsbets and the Jets, personally, I don’t see it, as I’ve explained in this video from my YouTube channel (subscribe! 😀):

However, if we do wind up throwing a sixth-round dart at him or something and get him, I won’t be happy about it… but I’ll understand why and hope for the best. It would be the first dumb move of the Mougey regime since he got his staff together, but as I said there is at least some logic to it. That logic being, keep getting young QBs until you hit on one. That sounds good, of course, until you dig deeper, as is done in the video above, and explained by professional scout Bill Sparks below.

Mimsy is BACK!

Old friend Denzel Mims has made his way back into the NFL, signing with the Dallas Cowboys after a stint in the UFL. Everyone here at FSPN wishes Mimsy well, and hopes he can be a contributor with the Cowbabies and maybe even get his career back on track.

Frankie from Flatbush is a Scouting Academy graduate and author of the new e-book, THE GENO FILES: Scouting the NFL’s Forgotten Quarterback, Geno Smith. Not sure what to expect from Geno? Is it Vegas Geno or Seattle Geno? Or back-in-the-day Jets Geno??? The narrative, the normie stats, the advanced data analytics, a standard scouting write-up, and a new, proprietary QB eval system. It’s all there, just click the link below to find out what we’re likely to get from Mr. Eugene Cyril Smith III this year.

THE GENO FILES by Frankie

Where the Title of this Column Comes from

Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Act III, Scene 1

Hamlet, the hero of our story:

To be, or not to be, that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them: to die, to sleep
No more; and by a sleep, to say we end
The heart-ache, and the thousand natural shocks
That Flesh is heir to? 'Tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wished. To die, to sleep,
To sleep, perchance to Dream; aye, there's the rub,
For in that sleep of death, what dreams may come,
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause. There's the respect
That makes Calamity of so long life:
For who would bear the Whips and Scorns of time,
The Oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,
The pangs of despised Love, the law’s delay,
The insolence of office, and the spurns
That patient merit of th'unworthy takes,
When he himself might his Quietus make
With a bare Bodkin? Who would Fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death,
The undiscovered country, from whose bourn
No traveller returns, puzzles the will,
And makes us rather bear those ills we have,
Than fly to others that we know not of?
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,
And thus the native hue of Resolution
Is sicklied o'er, with the pale cast of Thought,
And enterprises of great pitch and moment,
With this regard their Currents turn awry,
And lose the name of Action. Soft you now,
The fair Ophelia? Nymph, in thy Orisons
Be all my sins remember'd.

Brian Duker is one of the NFL’s quieter rising coaches, but his path to becoming the New York Jets’ defensive coordinator is exactly the kind that front offices trust: long apprenticeship, strong references, and a track record of improving secondary play. In 2026, the Jets put him in charge of the defense after his work with Aaron Glenn in Detroit, betting that his organization, teaching ability, and familiarity with Glenn’s system can help stabilize a unit that so desperately needs a reset.

Ladder, Rung One

Duker’s coaching roots go back to college, where he began as a student assistant at Towson before moving into graduate assistant roles at Bryant and Missouri.

His first NFL job came in 2015 as a defensive intern with the Cleveland Browns, where he also worked with Aaron Glenn. After that, he spent a year as a defensive analyst with San Francisco, then moved to Baltimore from 2018 to 2020 in supporting roles that helped him gain experience inside one of the league’s most respected defensive cultures. The Ravens and 49ers are, of course, two of the model franchises in the NFL over the past 15 years or so. Nice to have them on the résumé. Notably, with the Ravens he worked closely with DC Wink Martindale, who was a candidate for the Jets’ DC role this year.

Ladder Rungs, Rising

Duker’s rise has been steady and deliberate. He moved from intern and analyst roles into more visible positions with the Detroit Lions, where he worked under Assistant Coach of the Year Nominee Aaron Glenn from 2021 through 2023 and climbed from defensive assistant to safeties coach to defensive backs coach.

“For me, knowing AG and what kind of guy he was, and AG was just awesome even in my short time in 1 year with him in Cleveland, but I had a ton of respect for him... the kind of person he was, and the coach he was, I knew he’d be successful as a Defensive Coordinator.” - Brian Duker

That Detroit run helped change his profile around the league. The Lions improved dramatically during that period as they improved the personnel steadily from year to year, and Duker’s work with the back end of the defense earned him a move to Miami, where he spent the last two seasons as pass game coordinator and secondary coach. In Miami, he helped a defense finish fourth in total defense in 2024 and post the team’s lowest yards-per-game mark in 15 seasons.

The résumé is especially strong because it shows repeated success in different environments. Baltimore, Detroit, and Miami all gave him exposure to winning structures, and the Jets highlighted that he has helped 10 different players reach the Pro Bowl since 2018.

Almost the Top of Said Ladder

The biggest storyline around Duker is that he is not expected to be the Jets’ primary play-caller. Reporting around the hire made clear that Aaron Glenn is expected to take on that responsibility, which means Duker’s job is more about coordination, structure, and keeping the defense organized than standing alone as the caller on game day.

That setup still gives him plenty of influence. Duker has said his role is to help Glenn excel, manage the finer details, and keep the unit organized, which can include game-planning support, personnel communication, and practice structure. For a first-time coordinator, that is a meaningful assignment because it lets him focus on the operational side of building a defense while Glenn handles the final calls. With the move to a 3-4 base, Glenn having a familiar hand as his top lieutenant makes a lot of sense.

Lifter Needed

The Jets are counting on Duker to help a defense that has lacked consistency and identity. New York’s own team announcement described him as a coach with “high football acumen” and an aggressive approach, and those traits fit the kind of defense Glenn wants to build. Duker’s recent work in Miami and Detroit also suggests he can help improve communication in the secondary, which is critical for a team trying to play with more discipline and fewer busted coverages, especially as they have brought in new players across the board, including Minkah Fitzpatrick, Dane Belton, Nahshon Wright, D’Angelo Ponds, etc.

One of his biggest advantages is flexibility. He has coached safeties, defensive backs, and secondary units, so he understands how the coverage structure fits together from the top down. This should be of importance for the Jets because the defense needs not just talent, but cleaner execution, better situational communication, and a more coherent week-to-week identity.

If the Jets get the version of Duker they hope for, his impact may not be seen in splashy press conferences or headline-grabbing play calls. It will show up in a steadier back end, better third-down defense, and a unit that looks more connected from the front seven to the secondary.

The Value

Duker’s hiring says as much about Aaron Glenn’s vision as it does about Duker himself. Glenn knows him from Cleveland and Detroit, trusts his football mind, and clearly values a coordinator who can handle the details while the head coach sets the tone on defense. That kind of alignment can matter a lot for a young staff trying to rebuild a defense quickly.

For the Jets, the hope is simple: Duker’s climb through the coaching ranks, his background with some of the league’s better defensive programs, and his fit with Glenn will translate into a more disciplined and effective unit in 2026. He may be a first-time coordinator, but he arrives with enough experience to make the kind of impact the Jets need in 2026.

___

Frankie from Flatbush is the author of the new e-book, THE GENO FILES: Scouting the NFL’s Forgotten QB, Geno Smith. Secure your copy by clicking the button below.

THE GENO FILES

Writtens: https://frankiefromflatbush.substack.com

From Miami tight end to Super Bowl champion

Roberts’ credibility in the tight end room starts with his own playing résumé. He played tight end at the University of Miami, contributing to two national championship teams during the Hurricanes’ 1980s heyday, a program known for physicality, NFL‑level practices, and demanding position coaches. That background–considering how legendary those Miami teams were (Ray Lewis, Michael Irvin, Ed Reed, et al)--gives him instant buy‑in when he talks about toughness, practice habits, and competition.

He was drafted in 1988 and played six seasons at tight end with the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys. While his pro numbers were modest — 48 catches for 450 yards and two touchdowns in 80 games — he carved out a role as a physical in‑line blocker and complementary target, eventually earning a Super Bowl ring with the 1993 Cowboys. For a Jets team that wants its tight ends to block like linemen and win situationally in the pass game, that “do‑the‑dirty‑work” career arc is exactly the ethos Roberts will preach.

How Roberts got into coaching

After his playing career, Roberts entered coaching in 1999 at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) as a running backs coach. Starting at a new program and building from scratch, he was heavily involved in recruiting and player development, learning how to teach technique and effort to athletes who were far from finished products. That ground‑up experience is part of why he’s trusted as a developmental coach, not just a scheme guy.

His jump to the NFL came in 2003 when he became tight ends coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars, launching what has become one of the league’s longest continuous runs coaching the position. Since then he has almost always been responsible for tight ends, with brief forays into running backs, giving him an unusually deep catalog of drills, teaching progressions, and blocking schemes for the position.

A deep NFL coaching résumé

Roberts’ NFL stops read like a tour of different offensive philosophies. He has coached tight ends for:

• Jacksonville Jaguars (2003–2006)

• Cleveland Browns (2007–2008)

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2009–2011)

• Indianapolis Colts (2012–2015)

• Los Angeles Chargers (TEs 2020, RBs 2017–2019)

• Pittsburgh Steelers (2021–2025)

That range means he has taught tight ends in power‑run systems, West Coast variations, vertical passing attacks, and more conservative, ball‑control offenses. When he talks to a Jets tight end about alignment, leverage, or route depth, he’s drawing from how the position is used across multiple systems, not just one playbook.

Most recently, with the Steelers, Roberts helped develop Pat Freiermuth from a second‑round pick into one of the more productive pass‑catching tight ends in the league. Under Roberts, Freiermuth earned a sizable contract extension, posting 668 receiving yards in 2024 (12th among tight ends) and ranking near the top of the league in touchdowns that season. In 2025, the tight end room remained productive as Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith combined for over 700 yards and six scores, showing Roberts could manage a multi‑player rotation and keep both blocking and receiving roles effective. Darnell Washington, the biggest TE perhaps ever, also just got a massive contract after the work he did with Coach Roberts the past few years.

NFL reputation

Roberts has built a reputation around the league as a fundamentally sound teacher and a steady, detail‑oriented voice in the room. Pittsburgh outlets have described him as one of the NFL’s longest‑tenured tight ends coaches and highlighted his role in taking Freiermuth and Darnell Washington from Day 2 draft picks to starting‑caliber players. Local coverage around the Jets’ hire has framed him as an “upgrade” precisely because of that development track record and his history of maximizing young talent.

When the Steelers originally hired Roberts, the team emphasized his extensive experience and his background as a former tight end who understands the position from the inside out. Media comments from Pittsburgh during his tenure frequently noted that his tight ends were technically sound and unselfish, contributing in the run game and on special teams even when targets were limited. That combination—demanding technique but earning respect by having “been there”—is a big part of why players tend to respond well to him.

Why the Jets targeted Roberts

The Jets lost Jeff Blasko to Todd “Playsheet-in-Shorts” Monken and the Cleveland Browns this year, creating an opening at tight ends coach just as the position room was starting to show signs of life. In that context, the front office and Aaron Glenn went after Roberts as someone who could both maintain the positive trajectory and push it higher. He also joins defensive line coach Karl Dunbar as another addition from Mike Tomlin’s Pittsburgh staff, signaling a desire to import some of the Steelers’ physical, detail‑driven culture.

Analysts covering the hire have pointed out that Roberts’ main mandate with the Jets will be developing Mason Taylor and Kenyon Sadiq, last year’s second‑round pick and this year’s first-round pick. Given how he helped Freiermuth grow into a high‑end starter on a rookie deal, it is easy to see why the Jets believe he can replicate that developmental arc with their own young talent. For a franchise trying to build long‑term offensive stability, that kind of position coach can be as valuable as a mid‑tier free‑agent signing.

How he can raise the Jets’ tight end room

From a football standpoint, there are several concrete ways Roberts is likely to raise the level of the tight ends this year:

1. Sharper fundamentals in the run game
   Roberts’ background as a physical in‑line tight end and his work in run‑centric systems suggest he will be demanding with hand placement, pad level, and footwork in the run game. Expect more consistent edge sealing, fewer whiffed second‑level blocks, and better cohesion with the offensive line on combo blocks and sift motions.

2. Defined roles and packages
   His history with multi‑player rooms (e.g., Freiermuth plus Jonnu Smith, or larger rotations in previous stops) indicates he will carve out clear situational roles—Y in‑line, move tight end, H‑back, red‑zone packages—so that each Jets tight end knows exactly how he’s being deployed. That clarity typically leads to fewer mental errors and better execution in high‑leverage downs.

3. Route detail and quarterback trust
   Freiermuth’s development into a reliable outlet and red‑zone option in Pittsburgh speaks to Roberts’ ability to coach nuanced route running and spacing against zone coverage. With Frank Reich coordinating the offense, Roberts will be tasked with making sure Jets tight ends are where the quarterback expects them to be on option routes, sit routes, and play‑action crossers, which is a big part of building trust and third‑down efficiency.

4. Young player development, especially for Mason Taylor and Kenyon Sadiq
   Roberts’ track record with Freiermuth, Washington, and late‑rounder Connor Heyward shows he can bring along young players with different body types and skill sets. For the Jets, that specifically translates to accelerating Taylor’s and Sadiq’s progression from promising athletes to every‑down contributosr, tightening up their blocking while expanding their route tree.

5. Culture: toughness, professionalism, and detail
   Having come from Dallas’ Super Bowl culture and Pittsburgh’s long‑standing identity, Roberts is steeped in environments where tight ends are expected to be tough, smart, and versatile. That mindset should help set a higher standard in the room for film study, practice habits, and special teams contributions, which often separates “OK” position groups from ones that quietly anchor a playoff offense.

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The Jets’ last fortnight has been defined by optimism, roster churn, and a clear attempt to rebuild the offense around Frank Reich and Geno Smith. But the defense has been getting plenty of praise as well. Here’s the latest from around a sleepy JetsTown.

Great Scott!

Gee Scott is the kind of low-risk, high-upside addition the Jets have repeatedly targeted this spring. Reports say the former Ohio State tight end is transitioning to wide receiver after stints with the Patriots and Commanders, and the Jets are clearly betting on size, athleticism, and positional flexibility. (Not to mention our habit of acquiring Ohio State alums.)

Scott will be auditioning for a job on the practice squad. If he can be a somewhat effective Swiss Army knife of TE/WR/FB/RB/STer, then he has a shot of staying in the NFL. Odds are low, though.

The Comeback King is Coming Back

Frank Reich has become one of the central talking points around the Jets because players are publicly responding well to his system. WR Garrett Wilson has been especially vocal, endorsing Reich’s offense and framing it as more “player-empowering” than what the team has dealt with in recent years. Always good to get player optimism this time of year.

The appeal is easy to understand: the Jets are trying to reset after a rough 2025 season, and Reich brings experience, structure, and credibility to an offense that badly needed all three. Early commentary suggests the scheme is giving players more clarity, which is often the first step toward real improvement even before the results show up in games.

One criticism I’ve heard but think is unfair is something along the lines of: the last time we saw Reich in the NFL, it didn’t go well. While this is technically true, I will remind you that he had rookie Bryce Young that year, a QB he did not want, in his first year as Carolina’s HC, with a literally insane owner, David Tepper. (Ask anyone in and around Pittsburgh about Tepper, and you will find I’m right.) Young had a worse year than Zach Wilson, btw. (3.7 ANY/A to 3.9) So, a historically horrible quarterback on a rebuilding team. Just throw that year in the garbage, it says nothing about Reich.

Back in Indy, when he good a good QB he produced a top 10-ish scoring offense. If you protect Geno Smith he will be a good QB (per Seattle performance.) I believe we will protect Geno, and I therefore believe we will have a scoring offense in the 10-15 range in the league. Massive upgrades. Speaking of Mr. Smith…

General Geno

Geno Smith has been one of the more interesting storylines because his return gives the Jets a veteran quarterback they can actually build around. He is the unquestioned starter, and the early tone around OTAs has been that he is settling into the offense well, even impressing Ball Dummies like Zack “The Hack” Rosenblatt with his ability to throw accurate passes.

The Jets are banking on Smith to stabilize the offensive unit. The buzz around him is not just nostalgia from the 2013-2016 era; it reflects a belief that he can bring competence, leadership, and enough downfield execution to make Reich’s system work. A much needed improvement at the QB position over what has been trotted out there over the past 15+ years.

I’ll have more on Geno in the coming months. Watch this space!

The Sandy Man Can!

The Jets’ signing of Jason Sanders is another example of a team that is still sorting out the edges of the roster. Even though kicker moves can look minor, this one is super-positive. The Jets have cycled through kickers frequently enough that adding a veteran with NFL experience is less about headlines and more about trying to remove one more source of instability before camp.

Below are his career stats. If he is healthy and can get back to his performance level pre-injury, the Jets may have found their kicker for the next 5+ years. He is just 31 years old.

Double-D

The #JetsBeat are starting to notice Demario Davis in practice as well, both for his leadership and his performance. Sure, he’s old, but if we can get one great year out of him, the singing will be a win.

When Double-D speaks at the podium, it becomes VERY clear that he has a very bright future ahead of him in broadcasting. But at this rate, that won’t be until he’s 52 years old.

As time moves forward, I expect the Dopes of the Beat to starting understanding just how good David Onyemata, T’Vondre Sweat, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Joseph Ossai, and Kingsley Enagbare are as well.

Additional Camp Themes

A few other current Jets themes stand out from the last two weeks. First, the team has announced joint practices with the Buccaneers, which gives the coaching staff a valuable early measuring stick against another starting-caliber roster. Aaron Glenn and Todd Bowles are close friends, so this makes a lot of sense.

Second, the media narrative around the Jets has been unusually positive for once, with outlets noting that the offense looks different under Reich and that the team is entering the summer with more coherence than it had a year ago. Always good.

Frankie's Awesome YouTube Channel

After an historically bad season in 2025, the Jets (thankfully) gutted their coaching staff, admitting that the initial hires under Aaron Glenn were mostly colossal mistakes. While many of the new hires are known, and good, commodities (Karl Dunbar, Frank Reich, et al), Ryan Slowik is an under-the-radar hire. He’s our Safeties Coach, but has experiences all over the defense.

Slowik’s career is a classic NFL coaching journey: built through years of grind, shaped by a football family, and marked by repeated stops with respected defensive staffs. While he might not be the biggest name the Jets hired this year, he nonetheless will be a key Lieutenant in Aaron Glenn’s cadre of defensive coaches.

Early Life and Playing Background

Ryan Slowik grew up in Gainesville, Florida, and played college football as a Safety at Youngstown State before transferring to Wisconsin-Oshkosh, where he continued his playing career from 2001 to 2003. His ability to play the position is key to why he is a good teacher for the players.

His early football path was not a straight line to stardom, per se, but that is part of what makes his coaching career notable. Like many long-tenured NFL assistants, he built his reputation through persistence, adaptability, and a willingness to move across roles and organizations.

Coaching Origins

Slowik began coaching in 2003 as a personnel intern for the Green Bay Packers, then moved into a college role at Wisconsin-Oshkosh (his alma mater) before landing back in the NFL with the Denver Broncos in 2005. In Denver, he worked as a defensive assistant, special teams coach, and defensive backs coach, giving him an early foundation in multiple parts of a staff structure.

Continued NFL Career Path

After Denver, Slowik spent six seasons with the Arizona Cardinals from 2009 to 2014, and the team reached the postseason three times during his tenure. He then joined the New York Jets in 2015 as assistant defensive line coach under Todd Bowles, a previous stop that makes his 2026 return especially meaningful.

Following that, he continued his NFL journey with the Cleveland Browns and later the University of Tennessee, before returning to the league with the Miami Dolphins in 2022. In Miami, he served as senior defensive assistant, outside linebackers coach, and later defensive backs coach/pass game specialist, which showed that his value extended beyond one position group.

Family Ties in Football

Slowik comes from a deeply rooted football family. His father, Bob Slowik, is a longtime defensive coach who has served as an NFL defensive coordinator with the Bears, Browns, Packers, and Broncos, and also coached in the CFL. That pedigree gave Ryan a front-row view of pro coaching culture long before he entered it himself.

His younger brother, Bobby Slowik, has become one of the most recognizable offensive coaches in the NFL, including his roles as offensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans. Bobby had a lot of heat on him as an OC when C.J. Stroud came out of college on fire, and putting up some of the best QB rookie stats we’ve seen. Since then, Stroud has regressed and Slowik paid the career price, as no one is talking about Bobby Slowik as an NFL Head Coach currently. We’ll see if he can resurrect his career by getting good stats out of Malik Willis in Miami this year.

Another brother, Steve Slowik, works as a pro scout for the San Francisco 49ers, so the family is spread across multiple corners of the league.

Onto the Ascending Jets!

Ryan Slowik’s hire with the Jets is significant first because it reunites him with a team he already knows. He returns to New York after serving on the Jets staff in 2015, so this is not an unfamiliar environment but a second chapter with the franchise.

The hire also fits the broader plan of Aaron Glenn’s defensive staff overhaul in 2026. Reports described Slowik as a safeties coach and, in some coverage, a defensive passing game coordinator, reflecting the Jets’ desire to add experienced voices who can help repair a defense that had been among the league’s weakest units. In that sense, Slowik was not a headline-grabbing splash move, but a functional and informed one, which will be a feather in Ryan’s cap if the Jets are able to turn the defense around this year.

Fit with Aaron Glenn

Aaron Glenn’s staff construction suggested a clear defensive identity: veteran coaches, specific roles, and an emphasis on teaching details. Slowik fits that model because his background spans defensive line work, linebackers, defensive backs, and pass-game responsibilities, giving Glenn a coach who can speak across the defense rather than only within one silo. For a safety room in particular, that flexibility is valuable because safeties have to coordinate run support, coverage communication, and disguise work. This includes versatile pieces like Minkah Fitzpatrick (previously coached by Slowik in Miami), who can be deployed as a Free Safety, Nickel Corner, or Strong Safety, if need be.

The Jets also gained a coach who had been viewed by some around the league as a future defensive coordinator candidate. As such, how good this unit is will reflect, at least somewhat, on the job that Slowik has done. Big career stakes for him.

Coaching Reputation

Slowik’s reputation is built less on splashy headlines than on steady credibility. He has coached under multiple respected staffs and has remained employable across shifting regimes, which usually signals a coach who can teach, adjust, and maintain trust in the building. His years with the Dolphins, where he moved from senior defensive assistant to outside linebackers coach to defensive backs/pass game specialist, show the kind of upward and lateral mobility that teams value in experienced assistants.

He also has the kind of background that appeals to teams trying to improve communication in the secondary. Because he played safety and has coached defensive backs extensively, he brings practical knowledge of the position’s demands, especially in coverage structure and post-snap recognition. This is key because modern defense need to disguise, communicate, and adapt on the fly at a high level in the modern NFL.

Summary

Ryan Slowik’s story is ultimately about longevity, family, and adaptability. He has spent more than two decades in football, built his own path within a prominent coaching family, and arrived in New Jersey at a moment when the Jets needed experienced defensive teachers.

His presence should be yet another reason for optimism in an offseason full of black-pilling and dipshitted negativism in Jet content-creator world.

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Seth Ryan is one of the more intriguing additions to the 2026 New York Jets staff because his name carries both history and expectation. He is part of a three-generation Jets coaching lineage, but unlike his father and grandfather, he arrives as an offensive coach with a modern passing-game background at a time when the offense needs a resurrection.

His hiring matters not only because of the family connection, but because the Jets are trying to reshape their offense under a new staff. Ryan’s background with the Lions and Chargers gives New York a coach who has worked inside productive systems and helped develop receivers, tight ends, and quarterbacks in different ways.

Family ties to the Jets

Ryan’s family story is woven into the Jets’ identity. His grandfather, Buddy Ryan, began his NFL coaching career with the Jets in 1968 as the defensive line coach and was part of the staff that won the historically significant Super Bowl III. His father, Rex Ryan, later became the Jets’ head coach from 2009 to 2014, leading the franchise to back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances before allowing the team to fall apart after the rules of the new NFL CBA were enacted.

That makes Seth Ryan the third generation of the Ryan family to coach for the Jets, a rare NFL distinction. The franchise itself highlighted that connection when it announced his arrival, noting that he joins Buddy and Rex as part of the same coaching bloodline in New York. He also grew up close to the Jets’ Florham Park facility in New Jersey, which adds another layer to the homecoming feel for this underappreciated coach.

Since the mainstream media refuses to do any cool reporting on the issue, we’ll fill the void here on Chemtrailz, where we have no producers, no Executive Assistants, no butlers or maids, just a love for the Jets and a handy laptop.

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From Clemson to the NFL

Before coaching, Ryan played wide receiver at Clemson (Cade Klubnik’s alma mater), where he was part of one of the program’s most dominant eras. Clemson won the 2016 national championship during his playing career, and Ryan was on a Tigers team that piled up wins and developed a culture of elite performance. That background gave him firsthand exposure to a high-level offensive environment before he ever started coaching.

He entered the NFL coaching ranks with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017, beginning as a coaching intern before moving up to offensive quality control coach. The Chargers years gave him an early look at offensive installation, scouting, and weekly preparation, and the team’s offense performed well enough for him to build a reputation as a young, detail-oriented staff member. That foundation became the springboard for the next step in his career.

The Detroit Leap

Ryan’s biggest professional growth came with the Detroit Lions, where he spent five seasons from 2021 through 2025 working under wunderkind and offensive genius Ben Johnson, now Head Coach of the Chicago Bears. He started as assistant wide receivers coach and later became assistant tight ends coach, working under a staff that was among the league’s most productive and creative on offense. Detroit’s offensive rise gave Ryan a meaningful apprenticeship inside one of the NFL’s better systems.

The Jets’ official bio says Detroit had its winningest five-year stretch in franchise history during Ryan’s tenure, and that the offense averaged 376.0 yards per game over that span, the second-most in the league. In 2024, while Ryan was helping with receivers, the Lions finished second in total offense and scored 32.4 points per game, the highest league average since 2018. He also had a hand in a breakout year for WR Jameson Williams and continued excellence from WR Amon-Ra St. Brown.

His work with the resurgent Lions shows Ryan did not just come from a famous football family; he learned under one of the NFL’s most respected offensive ecosystems. In Detroit, he worked with Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, which gave him exposure to both high-level offensive planning and a head coach’s organizational rhythm. That combination makes him much more significant than a symbolic or nepotistic hire.

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Why He Stands Out

What makes Seth Ryan unusual is that the family name points one way, but his coaching path points another. The Ryan brand in the NFL has usually been associated with defense, toughness, and scheme complexity, yet Seth has built his résumé on offense, route structures, spacing, and game planning. That gives the Jets something they have not always had: a Ryan with offensive instincts. One can certainly hope the “good luck charm” vibes of the Ryan family certainly continue on through him as the Jets try to get back on track after a long layoff as a laughingstock.

He also arrives with experience helping quarterbacks and pass catchers in two different systems. At the Chargers, he was part of a staff that helped Justin Herbert break rookie passing records, and in Detroit he worked in an offense that consistently maximized route concepts and receiving talent with Jared Goff at the helm. That versatility provides surplus value for a Jets team that may still be defining its quarterback identity in 2026, depending upon Geno Smith’s performance. And it certainly will be of value as they try to develop Cade Klubnik behind Geno and most likely a rookie QB selected in the 2027 NFL Draft next April.

The 2026 Jets Fit

Ryan could be pivotal because the Jets are clearly trying to modernize their offense and widen the staff’s range of ideas. As the passing game coordinator, he will have direct influence over route design, passing concepts, and weekly game planning alongside offensive coordinator Frank Reich and QB Coach Billy “Moose Gravy” Musgrave. That role is especially important on a team that has to improve both efficiency and consistency through the air.

He also brings some adaptability and versatility to the table. Ryan has coached receivers, tight ends, and done quality control, which means he should be able to bridge the work of position coaches and the offensive coordinator without being locked into one narrow background. For a staff still developing a working relationship with each other, that kind of connective role can be valuable.

He also gives the Jets a built-in connection to the culture Aaron Glenn helped create in Detroit. Since Glenn and Ryan overlapped with the Lions, there is already a shared language and some institutional trust. That could help the Jets move faster in building terminology, teaching methods, and offensive identity.

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The “passing game coordinator” title can sound secondary, but on many staffs it is a leverage point. It often sits between the coordinator and the position coaches, helping translate ideas into weekly plans and making sure the pass game is coherent from formation to route detail. If Ryan is effective, the Jets’ passing attack can become more organized, more flexible, and more capable of the kinds of on-the-fly adjustments that are necessary in the modern NFL.

His age may also be an advantage. At 31, he is young enough to relate to modern players and still early enough in his career to bring energy, urgency, and openness to new concepts.

Why You Cryin’? We Got Seth Ryan

Seth Ryan’s arrival with the Jets is about more than family history, even though that history is rich. He is the grandson of Buddy Ryan, the son of Rex Ryan, a Clemson product, and a coach who spent the last several years inside one of the NFL’s most efficient offensive systems. That combination gives the Jets a coach with both emotional resonance and legitimate football value.

If the 2026 Jets offense improves, Ryan may be one of the reasons why. He has the background to help shape the passing game, the experience to fit into a modern staff, and the family name to make his presence feel especially meaningful in Florham Park.

Some eagle-eyed observers may remember a time not so long ago when there were two fellows who would appear on YouTube simultaneously, on the same channel, with the goal of talking smart football. “The Intelligent Gripe” was even a trope that was used during the show. Yes, it was the Thursday Thick of It, with the great GreenBean and Yours Truly, Frankie from Flatbush.

It was legendary stuff, for sure, and Jets Fandom is much the worse for its ongoing absence from Jets commentary. However, one thing that that dynamic duo would often discuss, with much relish and fanfare, was the use of 13-personnel, and how much incredible potential it had. [1 RB, 3 TEs, 1 WR.]

Well, guess what? The NFL has finally caught up to these two football geniuses (genii?) and has finally started to embrace the idea of 13-personnel in all of its glamorous glory. Here’s a primer on recent history and a good explainer of the concept:

Now, you may be thinking: sounds fancy, but how does this pertain to the Jets? Well, you may recall that we’ve invested some pretty expensive draft capital in the Tight End position recently: Kenyon “The Freak” Sadiq, Mason “Not Jason” Taylor, and Jeremy “The Jets Fan” Ruckert. Yes, even li’l ol’ Ruck will be important here. (I also think we’ll keep a 4th TE this year, whether that be Jelani Woods or a waiver-wire pick-up in August. Andrew Beck probably goes to the vet p-squad where we can call him up as needed on a game-by-game basis.)

Plug that personnel group into the situations described in the video above. It makes perfect sense. If the defense goes small (corners/safeties), we beat your brains in with Breece Hall, et al. If the defense goes big (linebackers), we have three athletic-as-Hell Tight Ends to run routes and kill you downfield. Pick your poison, but whatever you choose, it’s dirt-nap time for you. Nighty night.

And we now have a quarterback who knows what he’s doing, so using these weapons will not be a problem, but rather a delight. Below is an example of a play I saw Seattle use maybe 1,000 times in the 2022 season that I call “Gun Right 43 Boot Y Leak,” which involves a play-action, fake handoff, naked bootleg, and one or more receivers, usually the Tight End, leaking out toward the flat. In the picture below, it is combined with a Levels concept to create even more options for the QB. The play works about 85% of the time, and I would anticipate OC Frank Reich and Geno Smith using it, and its variations, a TON this year. It usually leaves one defender unblocked and the QB must navigate around that defender. Geno is excellent at doing that.

Prospect Watch

While everyone wants to tell you about next year’s QB class, including big names like Arch Manning, Dante Moore, and Julian Sayin, the most intriguing prospect of the entire bunch is South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers. The video below explains why we could see a totally different QB this year:

That’s a wrap for this week’s Sunday JetsLetter! If you’re enjoying these columns, spread the word on social media, via word of mouth (i.e., talking to people), or by using smoke signals on a hill near your home. Thanks!

New Jets LB Coach Ben Bolling is a game-changer.

Now, going from Aaron Curry to anyone else at all would be a game-changer, I get it. I mean, anyone who pisses off Quincy Williams of all people, perhaps the nicest and coolest dude in all of the NFL, must REALLY have their head very high up into their own keister. (Explainer below from Quincy’s intro presser in the ‘Land, where Coach Rutenberg, his former LB Coach with the Jets, is the new Defensive Coordinator…)

So, Bolling now takes over a beleaguered unit that often looked overmatched and under-coached last year, looking like exactly the kind of hire the Jets needed: young, technically sharp, and steeped in a defensive system that has already produced terrific results.

DVOA (Defense-Adjusted Value Over Average , a context-included measurement for effectiveness) for Houston Texans Defense:

2025: 2nd/32

2024: 3rd/32

The talent he has to work with on the ‘26 Jets SHOULD allow him to flourish, even though many a Jet fan has voiced their opinion that we needed to add more to the group this offseason. The players (2025 overall PFF grade in parens):

Inside/Middle of the Field LBs: Demario Davis (81.4), Jamien Sherwood (65.6), Kiko Mauigoa (42.4), Marcelino McCrary-Ball (46.4), Mykal Walker (75.6).

Outside LBs/Edge Players: David Bailey (92.4), Will McDonald (59.2), Joseph Ossai (64), Kingsley Enagbare (63.6).

[An addition of someone like Matt Milano (46.2), Germaine Pratt (59), or Bobby Okereke (56.7) certainly wouldn’t hurt.]

The expectation is that Jamien Sherwood will improve and revert back to his previous year’s prowess (73.8) once his green dot and its responsibilities are removed and given to Demario Davis. (Even in a down year, it is worth noting that Sherwood’s 109 tackles was 5th-most in the league.) It is also likely that the Jets are higher on Kiko Mauigoa than consensus and therefore would expect major improvement from that second-year ‘backer, especially in the area of run defense at which he excelled at the University of Miami.

Flight Path

Bolling’s career path from Campbell University (North Carolina) to the Houston Texans to the New York Jets shows a coach who has been tasked with a wide variety of coaching duties over time, consistently excelling at each. In addition to LBs, he has also coached Defensive Backs and Wide Receivers.

Most recently, he has excelled at teaching both the fundamentals of tackling and the broader structure of modern linebacker play under Texans Head Coach and former standout NFL Linebacker DeMeco Ryans. Here’s a video of Bolling teaching the fundamentals of tackling:

Bolling isn’t exactly a big name in coaching circles, but his experience, performance, and pedigree were important assets to the Jets’ coaching staff. He spent five seasons on the Texans’ staff, moving from defensive assistant to assistant linebackers coach, and he arrives in New York after working under the much-heralded DeMeco Ryans, whose defensive culture emphasizes discipline, leverage, and fast, violent tackling. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Bolling have this unit looking completely different in 2026.

What the Texans Tape Says

The most useful evidence of Bolling’s style is in his teaching clips (see above.) In one video on tackling technique, he repeatedly stresses “same foot, same shoulder,” “eyes through the thighs,” “body on body,” and “wrap squeeze and roll,” a very clear emphasis on eliminating sloppy arm tackles and poor leverage. In another coaching session, he breaks tackling into profile, sprint, and compression forms, again returning to leverage side, run-through, and finishing with a body part, which points to a coach who builds consistent habits instead of vague effort slogans. That kind of detail is exactly what can help a linebacker unit become more reliable on third down and in space.

Texan Linebackers last year under Bolling:

Azeez Al-Shaair: Pro Bowl, 70.9 overall PFF grade (17th/88)

Henry To’oTo’o: 65.1 overall PFF grade (38th/88)

Why the Fit is Credible

There is also a strong “tree” argument here. Bolling spent his Texans years under a defense that was widely viewed as one of the league’s better units, and one report noted he was part of a group that helped Azeez Al-Shaair reach his first Pro Bowl. Even more importantly, Houston reportedly credited Bolling with working closely with Henry To’o To’o and Al-Shaair in 2024, which suggests he was already trusted in a meaningful developmental role before taking the Jets job. That is the sort of background that should make Jets fans believe he can raise the floor of the room quickly.

What Fans Should Expect

Jets fans should not expect Bolling to magically turn the linebacker room into an elite unit overnight, but they should expect better fundamentals, clearer coaching, and more confident play. The best case is that Sherwood and the rest of the group stop looking like they are reacting late and start looking like they are playing with defined rules and violence at the point of attack. If that happens, Bolling will have done what good position coaches do: make the same players look faster, cleaner, and more dependable than they did a year ago.

Ben Bolling may not be a household name, but his track record says he has the right background to make a difference right away in New York.

For a Jets team trying to rebuild its defensive identity, that is a very good place to start.