Jets fire defensive coordinator Steve Wilks after team allows 48 points against Jaguars
New York Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks walks onto the field before a game in Miami on Sept. 29, 2025. Credit: AP/Doug Murray
Aaron Glenn fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks less than 24 hours after the Jets allowed 48 points in an embarrassing loss in Jacksonville.
Wilks already was on shaky ground, but Sunday’s performance pushed Glenn to make a move that was expected to occur after the season. Glenn decided on Sunday night and informed Wilks that he was out Monday morning.
Chris Harris, the Jets’ defensive backs coach and defensive passing game coordinator, will assume the defensive coordinator duties for the final three games, with Glenn assisting.
“I felt like it was the best decision for the organization at this time,” Glenn said during a Monday morning Zoom call. “I’ve said this all along, I’m evaluating players, I’m evaluating coaches, I’m evaluating myself. I just felt like this was the best decision for right now for the team and for this organization.”
Glenn is a first-time head coach and a former defensive coordinator. He hired Wilks because of his previous experience as a coordinator and a head coach, but it didn’t work out the way Glenn hoped.
The Jets (3-11) showed little resistance in their 48-20 loss in Jacksonville. The Jaguars scored on eight of their first nine possessions and put up their most points since 2007. In last week’s 24-point loss to the Dolphins, the Jets gave up touchdowns on Miami’s first three drives.
The 48 points are the most the Jets have given up since 2021. They’ve allowed 82 in their last two games.
The Jets also are the first team in NFL history with zero interceptions through the first 14 games of a season. If they don’t get one Sunday in New Orleans, they will establish a record for consecutive games without an interception. They’re tied with the 49ers, who went 14 straight games over two seasons.
“I put all that on me in regards to making sure that our guys are prepared and ready to play,” Wilks said after the loss to Miami. “We all know what we signed up for, and to be in this particular role, I take a lot of great pride in that.”
Wilks is a respected coach, but his firing shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. The Jets are his sixth consecutive job that lasted one season or less. After one season as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator (2023), he was fired even though they reached the Super Bowl.
“Steve’s a really, really good person,” Glenn said. “I think he’s a really good coach. I thought it was the best decision for the team.”
When Glenn was asked after Sunday’s game if he would take over the defensive play-calling, he said he wouldn’t.
When Glenn was with the Lions, coach Dan Campbell stuck with him despite Detroit’s defensive struggles. Glenn tried to do the same for Wilks, but Sunday was the last straw.
“I just thought from last week going to this week that the improvement wasn’t there and I thought it was time to make a change,” Glenn said. “I’m going to make the decisions that are best for this organization at all times.”
The Jets were expected to be better defensively. They returned eight starters from last year. All-Pros Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner were traded on Nov. 4, but the defense wasn’t solid or strong this season even when they were on the team.
The Jets allowed at least 29 points in four of their first five games. Teams have scored at least 30 points against them six times. They are 20th in total defense and 30th in points allowed (28.4) after having the NFL’s third-ranked defense last season.
“It’s a difficult thing because Coach Wilks is such a great coach and a great person,” defensive tackle Harrison Phillips said. “Ultimately, it kind of comes down onto all of us. It’s just part of this league.”
Harris, who played defensive back in the NFL for eight seasons, has never been a defensive coordinator. He’s been a position coach and defensive passing game coordinator the past three seasons with the Jets and Titans.
Glenn said Harris handled some of the play-calling responsibilities in the preseason, and he’s going to help him in his new role.
“Chris will be calling the defense,” Glenn said. “I’ll be assisting him as the week goes by on game-planning. This is a league of change. With change comes opportunity, and this will be a good opportunity for him to get a chance to call.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
