In the wake of another poor outing on defense, the Jets have made a late-season change on the sidelines. Head coach Aaron Glenn announced on Monday that defensive coordinator Steve Wilks has been fired. 
“I thought it was time to make a change,” Glenn said when speaking to the media to address the move (video link). “I’m going to make the decision that’s best for this organization at all times.”
Pass-game coordinator Chris Harris will handle DC duties for the remainder of the year. Glenn added (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini) Harris will also call plays for the unit. The Jets have been eliminated from playoff contention, but as they spend their final three games attempting to bring about needed improvements on defense Wilks will not play a role.
As part of the Jets’ sweeping changes on the sidelines and in the front office this past offseason, Glenn (a rookie head coach) hired a veteran in the form of Wilks to lead the defense. Things have not gone according to plan on that side of the ball, however. New York sits 30th in the NFL in points allowed, and the last two weeks in particular have seen the team regress defensively. The Jets have yet to record an interception through 15 games.
Of course, the trade deadline saw major subtractions made on defense in the team’s case. Cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams were dealt to the Colts and Cowboys, respectively. New York landed a notable haul in the case of both swaps, but expectations were tempered for the second half of the season. Nevertheless, the early portion of the campaign also included subpar performances on defense.
As the Jets plan for the 2026 offseason, today’s news confirms Wilks will not be in the organization for next year. The veteran staffer’s NFL tenure dates back to 2005 and it includes three stints as a DC. Wilks, 56, was also the Cardinals’ head coach in 2018 and he took over the Panthers in 2022 following Matt Rhule‘s dismissal.
Carolina did not retain Wilks on a full-time basis, and he spent the 2023 campaign leading the 49ers’ defense. San Francisco reached the Super Bowl that year, but reported tension with head coach Kyle Shanahan underscored Wilks’ time there. Upon being fired, the latter spent 2024 out of coaching. Wilks received another coordinator opportunity in the form of this Jets gig, but it has now ended after less than one season.
Harris will now receive a brief audition period in a coordinator role for the first time in his career. As Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated notes, Harris’ coaching stock has surged in recent years. It will be interesting to see how he fares in an elevated role down the stretch. Glenn added to no surprise he will assist in defensive game-planning while Harris becomes a play-caller for the first time.
The 3-11 Jets will finish the year with games against the Saints, Patriots and Jets. The team will look for a rebound on defense during that stretch. Meanwhile, Wilks – who remains one of the plaintiffs in Brian Flores‘ lawsuit against the NFL and multiple teams – will once again find himself on the lookout for a new opportunity during the 2026 hiring cycle.
Granted, he was failing when he had the players, but fire him now ‘after’ you trade the two best defensive players on the team?
Seems a bit unfair and there zero value in doing it now as opposed to waiting until the end of the year. Zero class.
Jets gave up 48 points in Jacksonville — Trevor Lawrence threw 5 TD passes and ran for a 6th. NYJ allowed 34 to Miami the week before.
As for saying the Jets have “zero class”, where was such outrage when the Giants sacked Shane Bowen?
What do the Giants have to do with this? It’s a different situation. As padam said, the Jets traded away top talent, then fired Wilks when the defense got worse. On the other hand, Giants provided Bowen with plenty of weapons and fired him for blowing 4-5 games where the Giants had a 10+ point lead. Apples to oranges.
Jets actually won 2 games after trading Sauce Gardner (who BTW nearly had a season-ending injury for Indy). Giants haven’t won a game since before their now-famous collapse in Denver.
Intelligent people understand that — Dumb Jocks talking in jock code can’t figure it out.
So you’re a jock.
Glenns whole mantra coming into this year was holding people accountable throughout the organization. Not firing Wilks would be going against the last thing he hasnt walked back yet. This is an attempt to remain consistent in order to maintain some sort of lockerroom culture
After the last two weeks and TLaw having an historic offensive performance against the Jets defense, someone needs to be held accountable. Im not sure whats unfair about firing a guy for having a predictable 4-3 scheme, every single defensive player regressing under him, 0 interceptions ALL YEAR, and what, 2-3 fumbles recoveries? Cmon bro.
Strange to do this now, but not shocking to see Glenn and Wilks break up. While it made sense to have such a veteran coach on staff, especially when Glenn would have less time to spend with the defense himself as a head coach, they don’t have similar schematic sensibilities over the course of their coaching careers.
Of course, this is the Jets, so this might just be a case of Woody hitting the “Fire Somebody” button on his desk.
Aaron Glenn made this decision all by himself.
Fun fact from Rich Cimini of ESPN: this is the 6th straight one-and-done season for Steve Wilks, whether as a DC or head coach.
Only gets opportunities because of…
of… that one time he was the DC of a superbowl roster
IDE
Very classy. Fire your defensive coordinator after you trade away your top 2 defensive pieces, you have a cfl qb out there and an offense that’s abysmal . The season has been dead for months already but you couldn’t wait until the end of the year. Shame on you Aaron, your false bravado and stupid confidence that is completely undeserving is hopefully going to have your office cleaned out very soon.
This is the Jets. You really think an in-season coordinator firing is the head coach’s idea?
It most certainly was Aaron Glenn’s decision and his alone.
How much stock do you think I put in your certainty, Chucky?
Glenn said so in the team’s Monday morning press briefing.
Maybe y’all should take a course in fact-checking instead of playing keyboard warrior.
Oh then it must be completely true.
What could possibly make you think Woody Johnson would do something so impulsive? /s
Robert Wood Johnson IV has other things on his plate, such as Crystal Palace football club in England. Crystal Palace are in the top 5 of the Premier League and active for at least 2 trophies.
Only football trade rumors thinks its unclassy to fire a DC after a miserable season where every player regressed under the new DC. You dont perform, you get canned. Simple as
No interceptions all season? That can’t be correct. How is that even possible?
Still hoping Brownlee can change that. Absolutely embarrassing. Do the lineman NEVER get their hands up?
Gulls is correct — NYJ have had zero INTs through 14 games. Strange-but-true factoid that’s brought up in every Jets game telecast.
That’s crazy. The odds of not even lucking into one must be astronomical.
LOL Jets Jets Jets 😂
Hmm Glenn was a DC for the lions but puts all the blame on wilks. Glenn shouldn’t see year 2
Racism?
Huh?
Glenn really showing he is not head coach material and also is an ahole.
According to this, the Jets are playing the Jets to finish the season. Haven’t they been beating themselves all year? So to speak……
its a lose lose situation
New York flips a coin…
Welcome to NY Mendoza !
Who do ya Love Who do ya Love? Who do ya Love? Jets! Jets! Jets!
Every job this guy gets he’s fired within a year
When they trade their 2 best defensive players did they expect the defense to improve?? Only the Jets
The Jets, the franchise where coaches and players go to die
You would prefer the New York Football Giants, the most entitled team in the NFL. #1 in the Tankathon coming out of Week 15.
They’re playing themselves according to this article. Jets beat themselves more than peewee Herman at a porno
Getting fired from the Jets is probably the best Christmas gift Wilks will receive over the holiday season 🙂
The Jets are one of the worst teams in the league, they should be able to win that one!
And lose it at the same time! Yeah, I noticed that too. Maybe it’s a green-and-white game.
Could be a tie.
0-0
#FailForFernando mission going swimmingly lmao
Breathing thru yer mouth just like “The Human AI” Mike Lupica?
Huh
Yea, Wilkes was the problem. How did we ever miss that?
“The Jets have yet to record an interception through 15 games.”
That’s an amazing statistic!
Desperate move by a desperate coach. There was no need to fire him with 3 games remaining and no hope for any post season. Best to fire after the season, get a new coordinator and then get players in free agency and the draft that fit that coordinators scheme.
Or they should have fired him much earlier in the season to give a new coordinator time to implement his new system. Either way this move reeks of desperation.
It’s way too late to play the Paris Hilton card (“It’s Not Fair!”), plus your arguments would get laughed out of court by any labor-law attorney.
“The 3-11 Jets will finish the year with games against the Saints, Patriots and JETS.”
How did the schedule makers manage that??
Stands will be loaded with fans to see the Jets
Play with themselves !!
Week 18 is away to Buffalo, who may rest regulars unless the AFC East title is still in play.
The team that wants to win HIRE STEVE WILKE AS HEAD COACH OR DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR if they truly want to win BELIEVE THIS!!!!!