On Wednesday, the New York Jets filled their head coaching vacancy, hiring Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn after much speculation and a lengthy interview process. Glenn has reportedly already begun assembling his staff, reaching out to former NFL head coach and longtime defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. SNY’s Connor Hughes noted that Glenn might be looking to bring Wilks in should he assume the Jets job.
If the #Jets hire Aaron Glenn as head coach, a name I’ve heard associated with him as a defensive coordinator candidate is Steve Wilks.
Long-time assistant with multiple stops as a DC who also has two stints as a head coach. That’s valuable experience for a first timer in…
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) January 21, 2025
As Hughes points out, Wilks would be a tremendous asset for Glenn, who has never served as an NFL head coach before. Having a veteran staff member to share ideas with has proven successful in various instances. Wilks has had a successful career as a coordinator with numerous professional and collegiate teams over the past 25 years. He notably served as the defensive backs coach for the Chicago Bears from 2006-08, and the San Diego Chargers from 2009-2011.
In 2012, when Ron Rivera became the head coach of the Carolina Panthers, he hired Wilks as the defensive backs coach. Wilks had previously worked with Rivera in both Chicago and San Diego, and eventually rose through the ranks in Carolina, earning a promotion to assistant head coach, a role he held through 2017, including during Carolina’s Super Bowl 50 loss to the Denver Broncos.
Wilks secured his first head coaching position in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals in 2018, but faced challenges as the team finished 3-13, leading to his dismissal after just one season. Following his stint with the Cardinals, Wilks served as the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns in 2019 and then took the 2020 season off. He returned to coaching as the defensive coordinator for the Missouri Tigers in 2021 and then rejoined the Carolina staff under Matt Rhule in 2022.
After Rhule’s firing, Wilks became the interim head coach, leading the team to a 6-6 record in the 12 games he coached but did not retain his position afterward. Most recently, in 2023, he acted as the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, who reached Super Bowl LVIII before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs.
