Jets firing Steve Wilks proves Aaron Glenn is serious about accountability

After another embarrassing performance on Sunday afternoon, Aaron Glenn and the Jets have fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks with three games remaining. Chris Harris has been named interim defensive coordinator.

This move comes after another awful showing from the defense against the Jacksonville Jaguars in a 48-20 blowout loss to fall to 3-11 on the season. For the second week in a row, Wilks's defense was not ready to play as the unit surrendered 438 total yards, including 7.4 yards per play.

The timing of this move is a bit of a surprise, considering the Jets only have three games left in what has been a miserable 2025 campaign. Glenn has also openly spoken about his belief in Wilks over the last few weeks.

However, this was a move that was viewed as a must once the offseason began. Instead, the Jets decided to do it now. For Glenn, not only does this send the right message to the locker room, but it's the right move for the team.

Aaron Glenn and the Jets made the right decision to fire Steve Wilks

When the Jets hired Steve Wilks, on paper, it looked like the right decision and idea. Bring in a coach who has previous head coaching experience to help Aaron Glenn as a first timer. As Wilks's short time in Florham Park comes to a close, though, it is clear that it was the right idea, but the wrong person.

The Jets' defense this season has been atrocious. In some areas, they are hitting historic lows not only in franchise history but in NFL history. On Sunday, the Jets tied the longest streak without an interception in NFL history by going a 14th straight game without a pick.

New York has also tallied just three turnovers on the season, which is on pace to break the previous low mark in NFL history of seven turnovers in a season. The Jets also currently rank dead-last in the NFL in turnover differential at -17.

Wilks also had this Jets defense allowing 137.2 rush yards per game, which is 29th in the NFL. The Jets also rank 30th in the NFL in scoring defense, allowing an alarming 28.4 points per game.

For Wilks and the Jets, this defense has been a problem all season long, and the last two weeks have only gotten worse. Against the Dolphins and Jaguars, the Jets allowed 82 points, 796 total yards, 449 pass yards, 347 rush yards, and an abysmal 80% red zone conversion rate.

Slow starts over the last two weeks have also been a major problem for this defense. On the first three drives in both games, the Jets have given up six touchdowns, including five of those coming in the first quarter, while surrendering 343 yards.

It's not just the numbers that show how bad this Jets defense has been all year; the so-called eye test backs it up as well. Wilks's archaic schemes and lack of adjustments have caused receivers and tight ends to run wide open all game long, allowing quarterbacks to have a field day.

The lack of creativity on blitzes has also caused the Jets to have serious problems stopping opposing offenses when they blitzed because opposing coordinators and quarterbacks knew what was coming.

Under Wilks, the Jets have also seen major regressions from what should be key pieces to the defense in Jamien Sherwood, Quincy Williams, Will McDonald, and Jermaine Johnson.

This was a move that had to be made. The search is now on for Wilks's replacement in 2026, with many intriguing candidates who could fit what the Jets will be looking for in the offseason.