Jets set to give new DC a three-game audition to earn permanent job

The New York Jets made the justified and necessary decision to part ways with defensive coordinator Steve Wilks on Monday following a highly disappointing debut season for the longtime NFL assistant.

The search now begins for the next Jets defensive coordinator, and there is expected to be a number of intriguing candidates on the market this offseason. But before then, the Jets will first have to evaluate their own internal options.

Head coach Aaron Glenn announced on Monday that defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Chris Harris will take over as the team's interim defensive coordinator. Harris will call plays for the first time in his career, although Glenn insisted he will assist in game-planning.

While the Jets will likely hold interviews for the position in the offseason, Harris is going to be given every chance to earn a full-time job as the team's defensive coordinator. That opportunity starts with his three-game audition to end the 2025 season.

Chris Harris will have every opportunity to earn the Jets' DC job in 2026

Much like many members of this Jets coaching staff, Harris has experience as a former NFL player. A sixth-round pick of the Chicago Bears in the 2005 NFL Draft, Harris spent eight seasons in the league as a defensive back, appearing in 110 games and starting 88 of them.

He played for the Bears, Panthers, Lions, and Jaguars, carving out a long career as a reliable safety and special teams contributor. He even earned second-team All-Pro honors as a starter with the Bears in 2010.

Harris transitioned into coaching shortly after his playing career ended and has steadily climbed the ranks over more than a decade in the NFL. He began with the Bears in a quality control role before moving on to stints with Washington and the Chargers, where he continued to specialize in defensive backs.

His most notable work prior to joining the Jets came with the Tennessee Titans, where he served as defensive pass game coordinator and cornerbacks coach from 2023 to 2024. He helped oversee a Titans secondary that allowed the fewest passing yards in the NFL last season.

The Jets brought Harris aboard this past offseason as their defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator, pairing him with Glenn and a number of other former NFL DBs.

While the defense struggled under Wilks, Harris remained closely involved in game planning and personnel development, particularly in the secondary. His familiarity with the roster, combined with his experience coordinating pass defenses, made him a logical internal option when the Jets decided to make a change.

Now, with Wilks relieved of his duties, Harris steps into the spotlight with three games left to prove himself. The Jets are expected to give him full control of the defense down the stretch, effectively turning the final weeks of the season into an audition.

If Harris shows tangible improvement and can bring stability and just overall competency to a unit that has badly needed it, he’s positioned to earn a serious look for the permanent job this offseason.

His audition phase begins now. Consider this a head start on his job interview.