The New York Jets have made a massive change to the coaching staff.
Head coach Aaron Glenn announced that he has fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. Brian Costello of the New York Post was the first to share the news on social media.
HC Aaron Glenn Explains His Decision to Move on From Wilks
“I usually, well not usually, but I like to talk to the team before I let any information out that regards to team in general, but I’ll let you guys know that I relieved Steve Wilks from his duties this morning as our defensive coordinator,” Coach Glenn confirmed.
This is the sixth job in a row that Wilks has been one-and-done, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini.
For the final three games of the season, the Jets will turn to defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator Chris Harris to fill that void at DC.
“Chris Harris will actually be assuming those duties right now, and I will be helping him as he progresses through the week as our coordinator, and everybody else will stay the same,” Coach Glenn explained.
“This is a decision I made late last night, and I talked to him this morning. I felt like it was the best decision for the organization at this time. I’ve said this all along that I’m evaluating players, I’m evaluating coaches, I’m evaluating myself, and I just felt like this was the best decision for right now for the team and for this organization,” Coach Glenn added. “Listen, Steve is a really really good person, and I think he is a really good coach, but again, I thought this was the best decision for this team.”
Coach Glenn Dropped a Breadcrumb That This Was Coming
Immediately after the Jets’ 48-20 blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 15, Coach Glenn was asked about stripping Wilks of his play-calling duties.
“I know that question is going to be asked,” Glenn responded to the media via ESPN’s Rich Cimini. “Listen, I brought Wilks in for a reason, and, listen, I want him to run his system. We have three games left. Three games left for our guys to go out there and play.”
“His system. With those two words, Glenn separated himself from his defensive coordinator, who painted a different picture of the arrangement several months ago. Glenn probably wasn’t trying to throw Wilks under the bus; this was his way of letting everyone know that he’s a head coach who believes in empowering his coordinators. He was saying he lets Wilks run his own show — a show potentially in danger of being shut down,” Cimini wrote on Monday, December 15.
Perhaps that was a warning that this Wilks firing was looming.
Why Now?
Only three games are remaining in the 2025 season for the Jets. Why fire him now?
“Listen, I just thought that from last week going into this week that the improvement wasn’t there. I thought it was time to make a change. Again, I’m going to make the decision that is best for this organization at all times. It is my job to make sure that I continue to evaluate everything that is going on. I told you guys that. That is my job as the head coach, and I just thought this was the time for me to make that decision,” Coach Glenn explained.
Aaron Glenn Fires Steve Wilks, Makes Change to Jets Coaching Staff