The New York Jets have parted ways with defensive coordinator Steve Wilks in the wake of a crushing 48-20 defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
Glenn announces major coaching change
Head coach Aaron Glenn confirmed the dismissal on Monday morning, marking a significant shake-up for a team languishing with a 3-11 record and only three games left in the season. Glenn, a former cornerback and defensive coordinator himself, had previously defended Wilks when questioned about removing his play-calling duties after the loss.
"I brought Steve Wilks in for a reason, and I wanted him to run his system," Glenn stated. He shifted focus to the team's character, adding, "Right now, it's not about the X's and O's. Across the board, it's about the character of the men on this team. And that's what I'm evaluating."
A defence in decline
The decision comes despite the Jets defence allowing an average of 337.4 yards per game this year, a figure better than all but 12 NFL teams. However, the critical failing has been in points conceded. The unit ranks 30th in the league in scoring defence, surrendering 28.4 points per game on average.
The situation deteriorated sharply following two major pre-season trades that saw star cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams depart for Indianapolis and Dallas respectively. Since those trades, the defence has given up an average of 29.3 points per game, including a concerning 82 points in just the last two weeks.
Interim appointment and future prospects
Secondary coach and defensive passing game coordinator Chris Harris will step up as the interim defensive coordinator for the remainder of the campaign. Harris, who played safety for eight seasons in the NFL, has built his coaching resume with stints in Chicago, San Diego, Washington, and Tennessee.
Wilks, a highly experienced coach on the sidelines since 1995 and a former interim head coach for the Carolina Panthers in 2022, was ultimately seen as expendable amid mounting questions over the defence's direction and expected personnel changes.
There is a silver lining for the Jets looking ahead to the NFL Draft in April. As a result of the trades, General Manager Darren Mougey holds the Indianapolis Colts' first-round pick and the Dallas Cowboys' second-round pick. This provides significant capital to target an impact defensive starter, even if the team selects a quarterback with its first overall choice.
Potential draft targets to bolster the defence could include:
- Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell
- Georgia linebacker CJ Allen
- Texas A&M edge rusher Cashius Howell
