The Jets have had one of the best defenses in the NFL each of the last three seasons.
But in his first season as defensive coordinator, Steve Wilks aims to elevate the unit to a new level by blending his approach with that of coach Aaron Glenn.
“I really think it’s a collaboration of both of our schemes and what we’re trying to get done,” Wilks said. “But, most importantly, as coach AG [Aaron Glenn] talks about all the time, it’s not really about our playbook, it’s about our play style.
“That’s the thing that we’re trying to emphasize and communicate with these guys. The physicality, the effort, the demand, being smart, not beating ourselves, understanding situational football, and we’re going to make sure that we cater to our players. I think that’s the great thing as a coach, who do you have, what can they do, put them in the best situation to be successful.”
After the 49ers fired him following their Super Bowl LVIII loss to the Chiefs, Wilks spent the 2024 season out of the NFL. He worked as a volunteer adviser at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte under then-coach Biff Poggi. While in the college game, Wilks still watched NFL film of various teams, including the Lions, where Glenn was their defensive coordinator for four seasons.
While he said the experience at UNC-Charlotte helped him tremendously, Wilks said he was ready to get “back in the saddle.”
“When it narrowed down to the Jets, I got really excited, because, from afar, I know the roster, I know the personnel that we have on the defensive side of the ball, and a lot to work with,” Wilks said. “And with his relationship with the organization, I felt like it was going to be a great connection with ownership.”
Wilks brings over 30 years of coaching experience to the Jets. That is invaluable to a first-time head coach in Glenn, who is trying to change the Jets’ culture after 14 consecutive seasons without making the playoffs.
In addition to being a long-time defensive coordinator, Wilks served as the Cardinals’ coach for a season in 2019, before being fired following a 3-13 campaign. He was also the Panthers’ interim coach after Matt Rhule was fired in 2022.
“You can’t beat experience and situations that I may have gone through, that doesn’t have anything to do with football, and that’s what that position sometimes entails, that you’re dealing with a lot of things outside of ball,” Wilks said. “And then, also, just throughout the course of the year and trying to manage certain things, being able to have someone to bounce ideas off of, I think that’s critical.
“Sometimes in that seat, it gets lonely, and you don’t have that sounding piece, that individual to communicate and speak with. So, I’m here for that.”
Wilks, 55, will inherit a talented Jets defense that has finished in the top five in yards allowed each of the last three seasons. That included last year when the Jets were third in that category (313.8). However, those numbers are somewhat misleading.
The Jets’ defense collapsed following Robert Saleh’s firing after the team started 2-3. In Weeks 6-18, they were 28th in points (26.6) and 18th in yards allowed per game (337.9). That was a change from when the Jets were fifth in points (17) and second in yards per game (255.8) in the five games before Saleh’s firing.
Wilks takes over a Jets defense that has eight starters returning from last season’s team, including former All-Pros Quinnen Williams, Quincy Williams and Sauce Gardner.
Wilks’ defenses at previous stops with the Cardinals, Panthers and 49ers were known for being aggressive, physical and utilizing a high number of nickel packages, with a preference for blitzing and zone coverages. He also favors Cover 4 and prefers Cover 3 over Cover 1 in single-high safeties.
Glenn’s style while with the Lions was much more man-to-man coverage. No matter the scheme, Wilks says everything the Jets will do defensively will start in the trenches.
“I don’t care if it’s stopping the run, getting to the quarterback, creating a new line of scrimmage, and Quinnen is that guy that can do that,” Wilks said. “When you look at the second level, you talk about Quincy, talk about [Jamien] Sherwood, two great linebackers that I’m excited about and working well together right now with one another.
“Of course, we did what we did in the offseason with Sherwood, which I was excited about that. He’s stepped up, taken a leadership role. When you look on the perimeter, Sauce, Brandon Stephens that we brought in, AZ [Azareye’h Thomas], who we drafted, three phenomenal guys that can do the things that we want them to do outside.”
