As the Jets wind down another tough season, the spotlight isn’t just on the players grinding through the final stretch - it’s squarely on the coaching staff, too. In the NFL, the tape is always rolling.
Players are reminded that every snap is part of their resume. But that same principle applies to the men wearing the headsets.
Head coach Aaron Glenn is expected to return in 2026 unless something truly unexpected happens. But he made it clear this week: not everyone on his staff is guaranteed to join him next season. When asked about the future of his assistants, Glenn didn’t mince words: “I evaluate coaches at the end of the season.”
That puts the Jets’ three coordinators - Steve Wilks (defense), Tanner Engstrand (offense), and Chris Banjo (special teams) - on the clock with four games left to prove they belong.
Chris Banjo: Special Teams Shining Bright
Let’s start with the easiest call. Chris Banjo’s unit has been one of the few consistent positives this season.
According to FTN Fantasy, the Jets’ special teams currently boast a DVOA of 12.4%. If that number holds, it would be the highest mark by any team since 1978.
That’s not just good - that’s historic. Banjo’s group has delivered in all phases, and barring a complete collapse, he’s earned the right to stick around.
Tanner Engstrand: A Complicated Picture on Offense
Engstrand’s situation is trickier. He followed Glenn from Detroit, and there’s clearly a foundation of trust between the two.
The offense has struggled, yes, but it’s hard to pin that entirely on the coordinator when quarterback play has been inconsistent at best. Injuries, instability, and a revolving door under center have made it difficult to evaluate the offense fairly.
But here’s where things get interesting: the Jets are likely to overhaul their quarterback room this offseason. That could mean a veteran addition, a high draft pick, or both. And that raises a crucial question - is Engstrand the right guy to develop a young quarterback, especially if the Jets invest in a rookie passer?
That’s not something he’s done much of. During his time in Detroit, he worked with established veterans like Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff. While he did help develop younger backups behind the scenes, he hasn’t been tasked with molding a rookie into a starter.
He may get a chance to show what he can do in that department soon. Rookie Brady Cook is set to start this weekend, giving Engstrand a live audition of sorts. If he can help Cook look like more than just a practice-squad fill-in over the next month, it could go a long way in shaping Glenn’s decision.
“In Detroit, we had a couple of younger guys as well who maybe didn’t play while you had Jared or Stafford,” Engstrand said. “You had the younger guys you were always trying to work with and develop in addition to the starter.
I would rely on that experience. You put that to use here in this situation [with Cook].”
Cook’s performance - and how Engstrand prepares him - could be a key data point in the Jets’ offseason evaluation.
Steve Wilks: Defensive Struggles Mounting
Then there’s Steve Wilks, and his case is the most difficult to defend.
The Jets have just one defensive takeaway all season - the same number as Banjo’s special teams unit. They’re 30th against the run, 27th in points allowed, and they’ve yet to record an interception.
Even before they traded away All-Pros Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams in October, the defense was underperforming. Since then, it’s only gotten worse.
Last week’s flat performance against the Dolphins was the latest lowlight, and Wilks didn’t shy away from the blame.
“That effort wasn’t good enough to our standards,” he said. “And I put all that on me in regards to making sure that our guys are prepared and ready to play.”
Glenn echoed that sentiment - to a point. He defended Wilks publicly, drawing on his own experiences as a coordinator under pressure.
“I was fortunate enough to have a coach [in Detroit’s Dan Campbell] who believed in me the same way I believe in Wilks,” Glenn said. “I just don’t look at one person and say this is all on him. No, this is a collective unit, even with myself … I’m looking at everything.”
Still, the numbers are hard to ignore. Wilks has struggled to find stability in recent years - he hasn’t lasted more than a season in any role since his run with the Panthers from 2012 to 2017. His stint as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator in 2023 ended after just one year, and this season in New York feels headed in the same direction.
Wilks seems to know the score.
“We all know what we signed up for,” he said.
Four Games, One Final Evaluation
As Glenn looks ahead to 2026, the next four games will serve as a proving ground for his staff. Banjo looks like a lock to return.
Engstrand has a chance to make his case - especially if Cook shows promise. Wilks?
He’s running out of time to change the narrative.
Glenn put it plainly: “When it comes to that evaluation, to me, that’s how I look at it: From myself, to the coach and to the players.”
The tape is rolling. The resumes are being written. And for this coaching staff, the final chapter of the season may determine who gets to write the next one.