Steve Wilks is finalizing a deal to take over New York’s protection, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. He had an interview lined up for Wednesday, in order that assembly has clearly gone properly. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds a contract will likely be signed Thursday. This may mark a return to teaching after Wilks was out of the league in 2024.
As soon as the Glenn rent was made, Wilks was named as a strong contender to change into his defensive coordinator. The latter has labored as a DC three separate occasions within the NFL, additionally holding that position on three events within the school ranks. An interview additionally came about with Chris Harris, however Glenn and Co. have elected to go along with their best choice for 2025. A number of reviews from Tuesday famous this was the group’s expected route.
Wilks first coached within the NFL in 2005, and his inventory steadily rose with respect to his head-coaching candidacy. His first — and so far, solely — full-time alternative in that division got here in 2018 with the Cardinals. After his one-and-done marketing campaign in Arizona, Wilks labored because the Browns D-coordinator earlier than a one-year DC stint at Missouri. He returned to the professional ranks on Carolina’s employees.
The Panthers fired Frank Reich halfway via his first season as head coach in 2022, and Wilks took over on an interim foundation. He acquired help from the gamers to obtain the gig full time, however Carolina finally employed Dave Canales. That left Wilks on the transfer, and he took cost of the 49ers protection for his or her newest Tremendous Bowl run. After dropping the title recreation (and reportedly clashing with head coach Kyle Shanahan alongside the best way), although, Wilks was fired.
Now, the Jets will convey him onboard in an effort to copy the success seen for a lot of Jeff Ulbrich‘s time on the helm of their protection. After Robert Saleh‘s midseason firing, Ulbrich took over as interim HC however posted a 3-9 document. Whereas he interviewed for the full-time gig, Glenn was lengthy seen as a most popular candidate for this yr’s hiring cycle. The latter referred to as performs throughout his time with the Lions, however that will not be the case in New York.
In consequence, the Jets’ defensive coordinator rent loomed as a key one for Glenn to make concerning his first yr as a head coach. Wilks represents a extremely skilled addition to his employees, and expectations will likely be excessive for his debut marketing campaign in New York. The Jets completed third or fourth in complete protection for every of the previous three seasons, and remaining sturdy on that facet of the ball will likely be an apparent objective shifting ahead. If Wilks might help the group attain it, his inventory will doubtless obtain a lift.
