The New York Jets have reached an agreement with Steve Wilks to take on the role of defensive coordinator, as reported by a source familiar with the situation on Wednesday.
Wilks becomes the first coordinator appointed by new head coach Aaron Glenn, who was officially presented by the Jets on Monday alongside newly appointed general manager Darren Mougey.
The source requested anonymity since the team has not made any official announcement regarding the agreement. The NFL Network first disclosed the news about Wilks joining the Jets.
At 55 years old, Wilks was not in the NFL this past season, serving instead as a volunteer advisor for the University of Charlotte’s football program.
He held the position of defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers in the previous season but was let go following the team’s defeat in the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Wilks brings a wealth of experience to Glenn’s staff, as Glenn is a first-time head coach who previously worked as a defensive coordinator.
Glenn stated on Monday that he plans to refrain from calling defensive plays and intends to concentrate on overseeing all aspects of the team.
“I strive to be the best head coach available,” Glenn expressed to reporters. “To achieve that, I believe I need to manage the game effectively.”
Wilks succeeds Jeff Ulbrich as the Jets’ defensive coordinator and also has experience as a head coach himself.
He led the Arizona Cardinals for one season in 2018, where he was dismissed after the team finished with a record of 3-13.
He also served as the interim head coach for the Carolina Panthers in 2022, stepping in for a fired Matt Rhule, and managed a 6-6 record during his tenure.
Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Wilks began his coaching journey in 1995 with Johnson C. Smith.
He subsequently coached at various institutions, including a year as head coach at Savannah State after two years of serving as an assistant, as well as stints at Illinois State, Appalachian State, East Tennessee State, Bowling Green, Notre Dame, and Washington.
Wilks’ first involvement in the NFL came in 2006 when he took on the role of defensive backs coach with the Chicago Bears.
He has also worked with the Chargers and the Browns and was the defensive coordinator at the University of Missouri in 2021.
As Glenn forms his coaching staff, he is also working to get acquainted with the Jets’ roster alongside Mougey, recognizing that many assistants from the previous coaching regime will not continue with the team.
Ulbrich, who stepped in as interim head coach after Robert Saleh was dismissed, has accepted the position of defensive coordinator with the Atlanta Falcons, while Saleh is now the 49ers’ defensive coordinator.
In a related coaching move, San Francisco has brought in Brant Boyer as its special teams coordinator, following his nine-season tenure in the same role with the Jets.
Chris Banjo, currently an assistant special teams coordinator with Denver, is thought to be a strong candidate to replace Boyer on Glenn’s staff.
Reports also suggest that Tanner Engstrand, the passing game coordinator for the Lions, could join Glenn in New York as the Jets’ offensive coordinator, while Lions tight ends coach Steve Heiden is expected to be appointed as the offensive line coach for the Jets.
