Steve Wilks’ appointment as Jets defensive coordinator has NFL Twitter excited – “Great DC Hire for Aaron Glenn”

Jets fans are thrilled to see a real defensive coordinator in the shape of Steve Wilks joining Aaron Glenn's staff as the new DC.

Steve Wilks’ appointment as Jets defensive coordinator has NFL Twitter excited – “Great DC Hire for Aaron Glenn”

Steve Wilks becomes Jets new DC (Image via IMAGO)

Steve Wilks is back after a one-year hiatus from the NFL. The New York Jets have appointed Wilks as their new defensive coordinator in the Aaron Glenn regime.

Even though Glenn made his name as a defensive coordinator and promised the Jets’ defense would be aggressive in 2025, he dismissed the idea of calling defensive plays.

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I won’t call the defense. I want to be the best head coach you can find. In order for me to do that, I think I need to manage the game.

Aaron Glenn said in his introductory press conference as the new Jets head coach via NJ.com

Glenn said he would delegate the responsibility to a defensive coordinator, and the Jets front office went to work soon after, searching for the right man for the job. NFL insider Jordan Schultz on Wednesday reported that the Jets interviewed Steve Wilks who is among the favorites for the job.

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Later, Schultz, Tom Pellissero, and Conner Hughes confirmed the Jets hired Wilks as their new defensive coordinator.

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Jets fans jubilant hearing about Steve Wilks’ appointment

The 2024 season was a complete mess for the New York Jets. Robert Saleh was the team’s head coach and also called the defense occasionally due to his background as a DC, even though the Jets still had Jeff Ulbrich for four seasons as their coordinator. Jets fired Saleh and upgraded Ulbrich as the interim head coach but the move was comparable to fixing a water leak with a medical band-aid.

Steve Wilks' appointment as jets defensive coordinator receives praise on NFL Twitter Great DC Hire for Aaron Glenn
Steve Wilks (Image via IMAGO)

The outcome was a massive disaster for the Jets. They were 17th for rushing and scoring defense and 20th best in the red zone. It was a massive drop-off, culminating in a 5-12 finish during Aaron Rodgers’ second year as their quarterback. Ulbrich left to join the ranks in Atlanta, opening up a vacancy for the DC position.

Owner Woody Johnson revealed in Monday’s press brief that he has given Glenn and new general manager Darren Mougey the power to search and appoint both coordinators. Steve Wilks will now manage the likes of Sauce Gardner, Jermaine Johnson II, DJ Reed, & Quincy Williams.

Wilks spent the 2023 season coaching the San Francisco 49ers defense. He was the successor to now Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans at the Bay Area and made it even more formidable. The points per game (from 18.9 PPG to 17.5 PPG) and yards per game (from 305.3 to 303.9) dropped during Wilks’ tenure compared to Ryans’ era.

The Niners played the Super Bowl in 2023 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite dominating the Chiefs, a late Mecole Hardman touchdown snatched the Lombardi out of the Niners’ nose. Wilks was fired soon after. After leaving California, he went back to Charlotte, North Carolina, and assumed the role of an advisor for the Charlotte 49ers.

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Wilks has been head coach twice in his NFL career. In 2018, the Arizona Cardinals, and then in 2022, when the Carolina Panthers appointed him as the interim boss.