Kacy Rodgers leaves Dolphins to become Jets’ defensive coordinator

As expected, the New York Jets on Friday formally hired Kacy Rodgers – who coached the Miami Dolphins’ defensive line for the last seven years – as their next defensive coordinator.

Rodgers will join longtime friend Todd Bowles in New York. Bowles, who was the Dolphins’ interim coach after Tony Sparano was fired in 2011, took the Jets’ top job earlier this month.

The move adds uncertainty to an already tenuous position for the Dolphins. The defensive line, full of highly paid players, crumbled in the second half of the season, and was a major reason the team lost four of its final six games to miss the playoffs for a sixth straight year.

Change is coming. Starting defensive tackle Jared Odrick appears poised to test free agency in the coming months, and veteran Randy Starks could be a salary-cap casualty.

The search for Rodgers’ replacement will presumably begin immediately. One possible candidate: Charlie Bullen, who has been Miami’s assistant defensive line coach the past two seasons.

This story was originally published January 23, 2015 at 3:27 PM with the headline "Kacy Rodgers leaves Dolphins to become Jets’ defensive coordinator."