This perfect DC candidate could fix Jets' biggest defensive flaw

Following another embarrassing defensive performance on Sunday afternoon against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Aaron Glenn and the New York Jets fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. Sitting at 3-11 on the season, it's clear a lot has gone wrong for the Jets, with a lot of issues occurring on defense.

In Wilks' last two games leading the defense before his firing, New York gave up 82 points across eight quarters of football. Wilks leaves the Jets defense ranked 20th overall, 29th against the run, and 30th in the NFL in scoring defense.

Those numbers don't tell the whole story, though. One of the Jets' biggest issues has been their historic inability to force turnovers. Through 14 games, the Jets have tied the NFL record for consecutive games without an interception.

The Jets have also forced just three turnovers, which is on pace to break the previous NFL season low of seven. This has led to a league-worst -17 turnover differential.

Many names have already been discussed as the Jets search for a new defensive coordinator. One name, though, that stands out among the rest when considering the Jets' biggest defensive weakness is Al Harris.

Al Harris could be the perfect fit for Jets' defensive coordinator

After spending 14 seasons in the NFL as a cornerback, which included two Pro Bowl nods and a second-team All-Pro selection in 2007, Al Harris is quickly rising through the coaching ranks.

After spending time with the Dolphins, Chiefs, and Florida Atlantic University, Harris' coaching path quickly skyrocketed once he joined the Cowboys as a defensive backs coach in 2020. During his five years in Dallas, which ultimately led to a promotion to assistant head coach in 2024, the Cowboys turned into a turnover machine.

In 2021, the Cowboys finished first in the NFL in interceptions with 26 and total turnovers with 34. The following season in 2022, Dallas led the NFL again in total turnovers with 33. During these two seasons, Harris also watched two players put together league-leading interception campaigns.

During the 2021 season, Trevon Diggs produced a career high in interceptions, finishing the year with eleven, which led the NFL. Two years later, in 2023, also under Al Harris, Da'Ron Bland led the NFL with nine interceptions, tallying a new career high.

Harris' impact and success in Dallas has carried over to the 2025 season with the Chicago Bears as their defensive backs coach and defensive pass game coordinator. Similar to Dallas, under Harris, the Bears have turned into a turnover monster.

15 weeks into the season, Chicago currently leads the NFL in interceptions with 21 and total turnovers with 30 on the year. Just like Diggs and Bland were able to have career years and league-leading seasons under Harris, a few Bears players are enjoying a similar resurgence.

Chicago currently boasts the top three interception leaders in the NFL. Safety Kevin Byard leads the league with six, cornerback Nahshon Wright is tied for second with five, and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, despite playing in just ten games, is tied for third with four.

Wright and Edmunds have career highs this season, while Kevin Byard, at 32 years old, is just two away from tying and three from breaking his previous career high in interceptions, when he had eight in 2017 with the Titans.

It's safe to say that Harris' impact has been felt in a big way, as evidenced by the results Dallas saw and the ones Chicago is currently seeing with him on the staff.

There will be many intriguing candidates for the Jets to consider as their new defensive coordinator. However, for a team that has been historically bad at forcing turnovers, Harris' background and success feel like a perfect fit in Florham Park.