- Steve Wilks returns to the NFL as Jets' defensive coordinator this year.
- This year marks Wilks’ fourth season as a defensive coordinator.
- Wilks finished 9-19 in a year and a half as a head coach.
Steve Wilks returns to the NFL as Jets defensive coordinator for 2025.
Wilks took a year off after the 49ers fired him in 2023. New York marks the fourth stop for Wilks as a defensive coordinator.
Previously, Wilks worked as the DC for the Panthers, Browns and 49ers. His best year came in 2023 when the 49ers ranked third in points allowed and fifth in takeaways.
Wilks has worked for eight NFL teams since joining the coaching ranks, including the Jets.
His first year of experience came with the Washington Redskins. There, Wilks operated as a secondary coach.
An 11-year spell as a defensive backs coach followed with three teams:
- Chicago Bears (2006-08)
- San Diego Chargers (2009-11)
- Carolina Panthers (2012-16)
Wilks added assistant head coach duties with Carolina from 2015-17. In 2017, the Panthers promoted him from defensive backs coach to defensive coordinator.
Wilks left Carolina in 2018 to coach Arizona. In his lone full season as a coach, the Cardinals went 3-13.
The 56-year-old went on to three further DC jobs: Cleveland Browns, Missouri and San Francisco.
In 2022, Wilks returned to Carolina. He coached the secondary and served as the defensive pass game coordinator. After the team fired Matt Rhule, Wilks stepped in as interim head coach.
Previous New York Jets Defensive Coordinators
| Year | Defensive Coordinator |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Jeff Ulbrich |
| 2023 | Jeff Ulbrich |
| 2022 | Jeff Ulbrich |
| 2021 | Jeff Ulbrich |
| 2020 | Frank Bush, Gregg Williams |
| 2019 | Gregg Williams |
| 2018 | Kacy Rogers |
| 2017 | Kacy Rogers |
| 2016 | Kacy Rogers |
| 2015 | Kacy Rogers |
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