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After giving up 48 points to the Jacksonville Jaguars in their last loss, the New York Jets fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks with three games remaining on the 2025 schedule.
The move comes just after Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars offense managed to come out on top against the Jets defense, which has been one of the worst teams in terms of points allowed this season (28.4 per game).
First-year Jets head coach Aaron Glenn made the announcement Monday, although he previously said he believed in Wilks’ plan. Glenn, coming from a defensive background, made the decision to let defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Chris Harris take over in Wilks’ absence.
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New York Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks during the preseason game against the New York Giants on August 16, 2025 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Rich Graessle/Sportswire Icon)
The move also comes a week after the Miami Dolphins put up 34 points against the Jets in a lopsided loss.
“I felt like it was the best decision for the organization at that time,” Glenn said, via the New York Post. “I’ve always said it. I evaluate the players. I evaluate the coaches. I evaluate myself. I just felt like it was the best decision right now for the team and for this organization.”
Wilks has personally struggled in recent seasons. He hasn’t served more than a year with the same team since his time with the Carolina Panthers from 2012 to 2017. He was head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2018, but lasted a year after a 3-13 record.
JETS DEFENSIVE LINE MAN RIPS NFL OFFICIALS AFTER EJECTION AGAINST JAGUARS
Then, Wilks became the defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns in 2019, but also only lasted there for one season. He left football in 2020 before heading to Missouri to serve in the same role. Wilks was with the Panthers again in 2022 before joining the Super Bowl-bound San Francisco 49ers as defensive coordinator.
It was a surprising move to see the 49ers move on after that one season with Wilks, who didn’t coach in 2024 before joining the Jets this season. Again, he’ll have to look elsewhere if he wants to continue coaching.
All that’s left for the Jets to do this season is evaluate everything. They were eliminated from the playoffs for the 15th straight season – the longest drought in professional sports. Sunday’s loss marked a 3-11 season.
Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks of the New York Jets watches the 2025 NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on September 7, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Bernstein/Getty Images)
Every player and coach is evaluated for New York, and the defense has a lot of work to do. It doesn’t help that stars like Quinnen Williams (Dallas Cowboys) and Sauce Gardner (Indianapolis Colts) were traded before the NFL deadline, but the Jets are on pace to allow the second-most points in franchise history.
And in a game where winning the turnover battle is key, the Jets have held just two points all season long, failing to throw an interception in 14 games. This is currently tied for the longest streak in the NFL.
The Jaguars scored on eight of their first nine possessions, virtually finding their way through the Jets’ unit.
“I just thought from last week to this week, the improvement wasn’t there,” Glenn noted. “I thought it was time to make a change.
“I want to see constant improvement.”
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The Jets will aim to do that in the remaining three games to hopefully build some momentum heading into 2026. It starts Sunday with the New Orleans Saints, a 4-10 squad that has upset the NFC South division after wins over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers in their last two games.
New York will finish its season against the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills, who are both aiming for the AFC East title, where the Jets can potentially play the role of spoiler.
