Jets coach Aaron Glenn got a jumpstart on finding a new defensive coordinator this season.
Glenn fired Wilks after 14 games in which Gang Green’s defense continued to regress.
Before making the next defensive coordinator hire, Glenn needs to evaluate himself and what the identity of the Jets’ defense will be moving forward.
“I want to see consistent improvement,” Glenn said. “I want to see structure that’s consistent, I want to see play that’s consistent, and I want to see the culture of this football team come together. That’s not just the defense, I know you asked me about, but I’m just talking about in general. I want to see the culture of this football team over the last three games, and that’s what I’m evaluating as well.
“Listen, I don’t think we have a culture problem, but the thing is I want to make sure the things that we’ve been building up to this point stays exactly where it is and even improves. But defensively, I want to see consistency about how we operate the way that we play.”
Glenn became the Jets coach after helping elevate the Lions defense as their defensive coordinator for four seasons (2021-24). When he and Dan Campbell came to Detroit, the organization was considered a laughingstock, having not registered a playoff win since 1991. The Lions eventually broke that streak in 2023 and, at the same time, became NFC contenders.
When he was hired by the Jets in January, Glenn was expected to be a culture builder not just for the defense, but the team as a whole. He also wants to be more of a CEO, rather than have his hand on just the defensive side of the ball. Although he is still in the process of trying to build that culture, Glenn has to get his next defensive coordinator right after Wilks’ failed hire.
The Lions, when Glenn was there, were in a similar situation. Campbell fired offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn following a 3-13-1 season in which they were 22nd in yards and 25th in points per game. Campbell hired Ben Johnson, and of course, that proved to be a home run hire after the Lions won 36 games in three seasons with two playoff appearances with him as offensive coordinator.
“I really felt like this first year, and who knows, maybe years to come, that I want to really do a good job of managing the team and making sure that I have my hands on the offense, defense, and the special teams,” Glenn said. “I think it’s been valuable for me to be honest with you.
“And again, to have Wilks, a former head coach, somebody that’s coordinated defenses before I thought that was the best for me for my first time being a head coach and everybody’s different. Everybody’s different, but yes I did think about calling it, but again, I thought being able to manage the team will be better for me in my first year.”
Not that the Jets defense created a lot of turnovers under the previous regime in Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich, but they finished with a top-five defense statistically for three consecutive years. In just one year, the Jets have gone from one of the best in the NFL to one of the worst.
The Jets’ defense, entering Week 16, is 20th in yards (337.4) and 30th in points allowed (28.4). They are on pace to give up 482 points in 2025, which would be the second-highest in franchise history, behind the 2021 defense that allowed 504 points.
The Jets also haven’t recorded an interception in 14 games, tying the 2024 San Francisco 49ers’ record for the longest streak in NFL history. Their defense also has just two turnovers.
In addition to the lackluster pass coverage the Jets have had, they do not have a consistent pass rush. They rank 31st in sacks (22) and Will McDonald and Jermaine Johnson are both in the midst of having disappointing seasons.
Glenn is not in danger of being fired, despite what some Jets fans or some NFL analysts might believe. He’s making a lot of money, and quite frankly, it would be a bad look to hire and fire a Jets legendary player after just one season.
But the pressure will only continue to mount in 2026 if Glenn does not get this next hire right, especially after trading away both Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, two of the team’s best players at the trade deadline.
The Jets’ defense was supposed to be a blend of Glenn and Wilks’ systems, but Glenn admitted that he was letting Wilks run his own system. After previous stops as Cardinals coach and an interim stint with the Panthers, this was his sixth straight one-and-done coaching job.
Chris Harris, who was named the interim defensive coordinator, will get an audition to keep the job during these final three games. After facing the Saints this weekend, Harris and the Jets will have tough matchups in their final two games against the Patriots and Bills. However, the bar is low for Harris after the Jets allowed 82 points in their last two games against the Dolphins and Jaguars, and receivers from both teams were consistently roaming free.
Harris, 43, a former NFL safety, has never called plays at the NFL level.
“He’s somebody that really cares about what he does,” Jets defensive tackle Harrison Phillips said about Harris. “He’s very passionate about the game, he’s very smart in terms of game planning and knowing what we are going to get.”
When making his next defensive coordinator hire, maybe Glenn should implement his defensive system and have a defensive coach run it. After all, his system and doing things his way got him the Jets job in the first place. One thing is sure: if they do not show significant improvement a year from now, Jets fans will continue calling for Glenn’s firing.
