It’s a make-or-break season for New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn.

Either he wins in 2026, or he’ll be looking for a new job this time next year.

Because of that, one of his important tasks is to build a strong group of assistant coaches. Glenn cleared out most of his initial staff and will have to fill most of the key positional coaching roles over the coming weeks.

On Wednesday, the Jets began filling those holes with the hiring of defensive line coach Karl Dunbar after the coach spent seven seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It’s a move that should be celebrated by Jets fans. The team has brought in a celebrated defensive mind to assist Glenn as he appears destined to take over play-calling duties in 2026.

Just how good is the Dunbar addition? Some of the biggest stars on the Steelers have spoken glowingly through the years about the Jets’ new defensive line coach.

Jets get rave reviews on new hire

Since he was first brought to the team in 2018, Dunbar has led the Steelers’ defensive line to be their most consistent unit on the roster. Stars like Cameron Heyward, T.J. Watt, and Alex Highsmith were key contributors who benefited from Dunbar’s coaching.

The top reason why he remains a commodity? An ability to see beyond his coaching role.

“He’s just an unbelievable teacher,” Heyward said in an interview in 2024. “He takes time to really help you study. I can definitely say that he helped me continue to grow in my development as a player and as a person off the field.”

Numerous Steelers defensive linemen thrived under Dunbar’s watch. Watt won Defensive Player of the Year, Heyward made five All-Pro appearances, and in 2025, first-round rookie Derrick Harmon appeared to have an excellent start to his NFL career.

In the case of the Steelers’ aging stars, Dunbar has been praised for managing the workload through the weeks of practice.

“It’s taking care of us,” Watt said, “making sure even if we want to practice, we take days off. It’s just being smart.”

Understanding the talent on the roster and developing young talent are crucial for any defensive line coach. It’s the two biggest reasons why Dunbar’s hiring should be celebrated in Florham Park, especially if he brings in the kind of practice regimen that the Steelers have been known for.

“They do a good job of setting up drills for us to work on finishing at the top of the rush,” Highsmith said. “We do a lot of pass rush drills and at the end there’s always a finish and there’s always someone standing with the ball.”

The Jets had many hires last season that were initially celebrated but led to disappointing results. Dunbar is not guaranteed to single-handedly save the Jets’ defensive line.

However, from his ability to teach young talent to his management of veteran players, Dunbar stands out as an excellent coach. He will be one of the better hires made by the Jets during their carousel of a coaching cycle.

Pittsburgh’s top performers speaking out in his favor makes that clear.