A year after joining Fresno State for his first college football coaching job, Tim McDonald might be on the verge of heading to the NFL.

McDonald, the Fresno State secondary coach and former NFL star, has spoken to the New York Jets and Jacksonville, a source close to the situation said.

It is unclear if McDonald, 48, has received an offer, though the Jaguars on Tuesday named New Mexico State coach DeWayne Walker to coach their secondary, according to Football Scoop. The Jets' secondary job is expected to open once Dennis Thurman is officially promoted to defensive coordinator.

A call to McDonald on Tuesday night was not returned. But a message on the Twitter account of son and departing USC All-American T.J. McDonald said, "So proud of my pops. Pursuing his dream and being a great role model for me. Crazy timing! Congrats pops."

If McDonald does leave, he will be the first assistant that Fresno State coach Tim DeRuyter will have lost from the staff he hired after taking over the Bulldogs a year ago.

McDonald is credited with helping revamp a defense that generated 35 turnovers this past season after just nine in 2011. He also oversaw the breakout of safety Phillip Thomas, who led the nation in interceptions and became the school's first unanimous All-American and a Jim Thorpe Award finalist.

Thomas and T.J. McDonald are considered to be among the top safeties in this year's NFL draft. Another son, Tevin, is a safety at UCLA.

Tim McDonald also coached at his high school alma mater, Edison, from 2003-09 and in 2011. McDonald spent a couple of weeks interning as an assistant with the Seattle Seahawks as part of the Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship Program during the summer of 2011.

As a player, McDonald was a 12-year NFL veteran and six-time Pro Bowler. He earned All-America honors at USC.

McDonald played for Arizona and San Francisco in the NFL, but does have at least one tie to the Jets. He and Thurman played together as safeties at USC.