7 defensive coordinator candidates the Jets must consider to replace Steve Wilks

The New York Jets’ defense has fallen apart down the stretch, and Sunday’s embarrassing performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 15 felt like a true breaking point.

Allowing 48 points, including 31 in the first half, made it impossible to ignore how ineffective and predictable the unit, led by defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, has become.

While the Jets are undeniably shorthanded after moving on from players like Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, there is no excuse for a defense with this much remaining talent to look so unprepared and overmatched.

The scheme has been painfully vanilla, failing to maximize personnel and consistently putting players in losing situations. At this point, it feels inevitable that the Jets will move on from Wilks — or at least they should — at the end of the season.

With that in mind, who could the Jets look to replace Wilks with? Let's take a look at seven realistic candidates who could be the Jets' new defensive coordinator in 2026.

Jets defensive coordinator candidates who could replace Steve Wilks

1. Jim Leonhard, Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Pass Game Coordinator, Denver Broncos

Jim Leonhard would instantly be a fan-favorite hire, as the former Jets safety remains beloved in New York dating back to the Rex Ryan era. This would be a heck of a way to make his return to Florham Park.

Leonhard has risen quickly through the coaching ranks, previously serving as Wisconsin’s defensive coordinator and even stepping in as interim head coach before joining the Broncos staff two years ago, where he crossed paths with Jets general manager Darren Mougey.

In Denver, Leonhard has helped oversee one of the NFL’s best secondaries, led by 2024 Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II. The Broncos ranked top five in pass defense in 2025 and top seven in 2024.

Scheme-wise, Leonhard would be a natural fit, as Denver runs man coverage at the highest rate in the NFL, which aligns perfectly with a Jets roster that is already built to play man at a high level (currently the fourth-highest rate in the league).

2. Raheem Morris, Head Coach, Atlanta Falcons

Raheem Morris is widely expected to hit the market this offseason, as Atlanta appears headed for a full reset, and he would immediately become one of the most sought-after defensive coordinator candidates available.

Morris has extensive experience, previously serving as Atlanta’s defensive coordinator in 2020 before spending three seasons as the Rams’ defensive coordinator under Sean McVay, a run that helped earn him another head coaching opportunity.

He also brings prior head coaching experience from his time with the Buccaneers, giving him a level of authority and credibility the Jets clearly value. Morris is also a close friend of Aaron Glenn, and the two were seen embracing after the Jets’ Week 13 matchup with Atlanta.

In many ways, Morris represents what the Jets were hoping Steve Wilks would be. He's a proven defensive leader with head coaching experience, but with a stronger recent track record. Morris is also a New Jersey native who attended college at Hofstra, giving him local ties as well.

3. Jonathan Gannon, HC, Arizona Cardinals

Jonathan Gannon is another head coach who is widely expected to become available this offseason and would immediately draw interest as a defensive coordinator.

Gannon spent two seasons as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator from 2021 to 2022, where he earned a reputation as one of the league’s top young defensive minds before landing the Cardinals’ head coaching job.

At just 42 years old, he brings a rare blend of youth and experience, having already coached multiple seasons as both a coordinator and head coach.

Gannon also crossed paths with Jets senior football advisor Rick Spielman earlier in his career, when Spielman was part of the Vikings organization. That's a connection that may be worth noting.

Like Morris, Gannon would offer the Jets an experienced defensive leader with head coaching credibility and an ideally more modern schematic background.

4. Jim Schwartz, DC, Cleveland Browns

Jim Schwartz would be a home-run hire for the Jets and arguably the best defensive coordinator in the NFL. He was named AP Assistant Coach of the Year in 2023 and has consistently fielded elite defenses in Cleveland, even as the Browns have struggled overall this season.

While it’s unclear whether Schwartz will be available, a potential offseason overhaul in Cleveland could put him on the market, especially if the organization moves on from head coach Kevin Stefanski.

Schwartz also brings prior head coaching experience from his time with the Lions, but his true value lies in his proven ability to build dominant, aggressive, man-heavy defenses. If he becomes available, the Jets should be among the most aggressive teams pursuing him.

5. Al Harris, Defensive Backs Coach/Defensive Pass Game Coordinator, Chicago Bears

Al Harris is a rising star in the coaching world and feels like a natural fit for what the Jets need defensively. Much like Aaron Glenn, Harris is a former NFL cornerback who has done an outstanding job developing Chicago’s secondary this season.

While the Jets have yet to record a single interception through 15 weeks, the Bears lead the NFL with 21 interceptions — three more than any other team — and Harris has received significant credit for that turnaround.

Players like Jaylon Johnson and Nahshon Wright have openly praised his impact. With a Jets staff already loaded with former defensive backs, Harris would bring fresh ideas and proven results to a unit desperately lacking playmaking ability.

The Bears also rank top five in the NFL in man-coverage rate, making Harris a seamless schematic fit for the organization.

6. Deshea Townsend, Defensive Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach, Detroit Lions

This list wouldn’t be complete without looking at Aaron Glenn’s former staff in Detroit, and Deshea Townsend stands out as an obvious candidate. Like Glenn, Townsend is a former NFL defensive back with over a decade of playing experience and two Super Bowl rings to his name.

He has spent the last two seasons with the Lions as their defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach, helping guide one of the more talented secondaries in the league.

Townsend was considered a protégé of Glenn in Detroit, making the connection an easy one to draw. The Lions also run the third-highest rate of man coverage in the NFL, which, again, aligns perfectly with how the Jets have built their defensive personnel.

7. Christian Parker, Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach, Philadelphia Eagles

Christian Parker would represent a very different direction for the Jets, but one that genuinely does make a lot of sense.

At just 33 years old, the New Jersey native has rapidly climbed the coaching ladder, working in Green Bay and Denver before spending the last two seasons in Philadelphia, where he was promoted to passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach.

Parker also crossed paths with Jets general manager Darren Mougey during his time in Denver, adding another familiar connection. The Eagles run the second-highest rate of man coverage in the NFL, making Parker a strong schematic fit for how the Jets have built their defense.

While the Jets could opt for a more experienced name, Parker offers a younger, forward-thinking alternative to the retread route they took with Steve Wilks. He’s already on NFL teams’ radars, having interviewed for the Packers’ defensive coordinator job in 2024 before Green Bay ultimately hired Jeff Hafley.