The New York Jets fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks on Monday, December 15.
Sauce Gardner shared some comments about his old team’s decision on social media.
“Current/former players that Coach Wilks coached knows he’s one of the best/smartest defensive coordinators in the NFL. It’s not always what it seems,” Gardner posted on X previously Twitter then immediately deleted.
Heavy
Something Isn’t Clicking…
That is an emphatic defense of Wilks from one of his former players. Gardner was shipped off in a blockbuster deal with the Indianapolis Colts at the 2025 NFL trade deadline.
Before getting traded, Gardner was with the Jets for the first seven games of the season. The green and white defense was on a historically inept pace during those contests.
Not only did the Jets not win a game, going 0-7 during that stretch, but they also allowed 183 points.
Gardner suggests that Wilks wasn’t the problem, but how could you come to any other kind of conclusion?
Over the last two weeks, the Jets have allowed 82 points. That is the highest back-to-back total since 2021, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini.
“The Jets, a top-four defense (yards allowed) in each season from 2022 through 2024, have underachieved this season. They’re 30th in scoring, 20th in yards allowed, and 28th in EPA (expected points added),” Cimini wrote on Monday, December 15.
“The most damning statistic: The defense has only two takeaways and no interceptions. On Sunday, the Jets tied the 2024 San Francisco 49ers for the longest streak in NFL history without an interception: 14 games,” Cimini added.
Which statement is more likely to be true?
Have the Jets put together the least talented and worst-constructed defensive roster in the history of football? Or is this a poorly coached unit that is allergic to takeaways? The latter is more likely.
When you have reached this level of ineptitude from a turnover perspective, it has to fall back on the play caller and the person scheming it up.
Things Have Gone From Bad to Worse
Did the Jets trade away two of their best defenders, making Wilks’ job more difficult in the process? Yes.
Were they bad on defense before the trades were made? Also yes.
Two things can be true at the same time.
“The Jets are allowing 28.3 points per game, one of the worst marks in franchise history. They’re on pace to finish with 482 points allowed, which would be their second-largest total,” Cimini revealed.
Some Interesting Social Media Reactions to Wilks Firing News
“It is a good sign that Aaron Glenn recognized his mistake in hiring Steve Wilks and moved on. Some coaches would have been stubborn,” Brian Costello of the New York Post said.
ESPN Radio’s Jake Asman said, “Sounds like there would have been a locker-room revolt from the defensive players if Aaron Glenn didn’t fire Steve Wilks today.”
“Steve Wilks has had a long coaching career. This is his sixth straight one-and-done job. Glenn liked that Wilks had head-coaching experience, but you always wondered if they were a philosophical match,” ESPN’s Rich Cimini posted.
“The Jets defense has been terrible. Fans had been calling for Steve Wilks to be gone, & now he is. Accountability,” Jets content creator Harrison Glaser said.
Fans had been calling for Steve Wilks to be gone, & now he is
Accountability
Sauce Gardner Causes Stir With Deleted Steve Wilks Jets Firing Comment