The New York Jets have discovered their new defensive coordinator one week after former Detroit Lions DC Aaron Glenn turned the group’s subsequent head coach.
In response to 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 offers Glenn some precious expertise on protection.
Whereas this 12 months’s Jets protection completed within the top five in yards allowed for the third consecutive season, 10 of that unit’s 17 snap leaders should 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 might be “the very best head coach yow will discover,” per Rich Cimini of ESPN.
In complete, Wilks has been with six completely 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 group 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 in opposition to 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 nicely as they give the impression of being to submit their first successful season since 2015. He replaces Jeff Ulbrich, who was in the identical position earlier than taking on because the group’s interim head coach throughout its remaining 12 video games this season.
If the Jets are going to show issues round, Wilks no less than offers the defensive-minded Glenn somebody with veteran experience on that aspect of the ball heading into his first season main the group.
