Fox Sports NFL Insider Jordan Schultz made the following announcement today on X:
“Sources: The #Jets are set to interview veteran DC Steve Wilks tonight for their vacant defensive coordinator position. New HC Aaron Glenn has already said he won’t be calling the defense, making this a critical hire for NYJ. Wilks is widely respected for his defensive mind.”
While Schultz has high praise for Wilks as a defensive mind, it must be pointed out that three days after San Francisco lost the Super Bowl to Kansas City two years ago, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan announced he was moving on from Wilks as defensive coordinator after one season:
“I was sleeping on this for a few nights, trying to come up with a few tough decisions, but this morning I relieved Steve Wilks of his duties. Gonna end up making a change here at defensive coordinator. Really tough decision.”
In overtime of the Super Bowl, Shanahan called a timeout on a third-and-short because he didn’t like Wilks’ play-call.
During the 2023 season, Shanahan called out Wilks for a zero-blitz at the end of the first half that led to a touchdown in a loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Wilks was out of the NFL last year.
So while Wilks is a great person, a tremendous human being, some might wonder why Glenn would target him for the DC job, instead of as a position coach.
Wilks, a longtime secondary coach, has a good reputation working with DBs.
So some might argue, why not make him assistant head coach/secondary?
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