The New York Jets have discovered their new defensive coordinator one week after former Detroit Lions DC Aaron Glenn turned the workforce’s subsequent head coach.
In accordance with ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Jets and veteran NFL coach Steve Wilks have agreed to phrases on a contract to be signed Thursday.
Whereas the specifics of the deal haven’t been revealed but, the 16-year veteran Wilks provides Glenn some priceless expertise on protection.
Whereas this yr’s Jets protection completed within the prime 5 in yards allowed for the third consecutive season, 10 of that unit’s 17 snap leaders usually are not assured to be again as free company approaches.
Whatever the expertise he inherits, the 55-year-old Wilks, who beforehand coached the Arizona Cardinals and served because the Carolina Panthers’ interim head coach in 2022, offers Glenn with the chance to “handle the sport” so he may be “the perfect head coach you could find,” per Wealthy Cimini of ESPN.
In whole, Wilks has been with six totally different groups and served because the Cleveland Browns’ defensive coordinator in 2019. Wilks was final on the sideline with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023. The 49ers fired him after the season, shortly after the workforce misplaced to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in Tremendous Bowl LVIII. Whereas the 49ers completed third in factors allowed (17.5 PPG) final season, San Francisco struggled towards the run, particularly within the playoffs.
Though Wilks was let go by the 49ers and has no prior working expertise with Glenn, his expertise on the sidelines ought to serve the Jets properly as they appear to submit their first successful season since 2015. He replaces Jeff Ulbrich, who was in the identical function earlier than taking up because the workforce’s interim head coach throughout its ultimate 12 video games this season.
If the Jets are going to show issues round, Wilks a minimum of provides the defensive-minded Glenn somebody with veteran experience on that facet of the ball heading into his first season main the workforce.
