Jets agree to terms with 16-year veteran coach as new DC

The New York Jets have found their new defensive coordinator one week after former Detroit Lions DC Aaron Glenn became the team’s next head coach.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Jets and veteran NFL coach Steve Wilks have agreed to terms on a contract to be signed Thursday.

While the specifics of the deal have not been revealed yet, the 16-year veteran Wilks gives Glenn some valuable experience on defense. 

While this year’s Jets defense finished in the top five in yards allowed for the third consecutive season, 10 of that unit’s 17 snap leaders are not guaranteed to be back as free agency approaches.

Regardless of the talent he inherits, the 55-year-old Wilks, who previously coached the Arizona Cardinals and served as the Carolina Panthers’ interim head coach in 2022, provides Glenn with the opportunity to “manage the game” so he can be “the best head coach you can find,” per Rich Cimini of ESPN.

In total, Wilks has been with six different teams and served as the Cleveland Browns’ defensive coordinator in 2019. Wilks was last on the sideline with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023. The 49ers fired him after the season, shortly after the team lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII. While the 49ers finished third in points allowed (17.5 PPG) last season, San Francisco struggled against the run, specifically in the playoffs.

Although Wilks was let go by the 49ers and has no prior working experience with Glenn, his experience on the sidelines should serve the Jets well as they look to post their first winning season since 2015. He replaces Jeff Ulbrich, who was in the same role before taking over as the team’s interim head coach during its final 12 games this season.

If the Jets are going to turn things around, Wilks at least gives the defensive-minded Glenn someone with veteran expertise on that side of the ball heading into his first season leading the team.



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