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.
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.
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?
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?
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……
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