Jets Hit Rock Bottom in Blowout Loss, Fire DC Steve Wilks After Defensive Collapse
Coach Glenn announced he relieved DC Steve Wilks of his duties.
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 15, 2025
Chris Harris will take over in the interim. pic.twitter.com/WrkStpW3tH
The New York Jets didn’t just lose on Sunday - they unraveled. A 48-20 beatdown at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars sent a clear, painful message: the rebuild might be underway, but the growing pains are far from over.
Head coach Aaron Glenn, in his first year at the helm and known for his defensive pedigree, didn’t sugarcoat what happened. After watching Trevor Lawrence account for six total touchdowns, Glenn called the performance “very disappointing on a number of levels.”
That’s putting it mildly. This was a defensive meltdown from a team that, even in the midst of a roster reset, wasn’t supposed to look this lost.
Coming out of the trade deadline, the Jets made their direction clear - 2026 is the target. They moved on from cornerstone defenders like Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, signaling a full commitment to the long game.
But even with lowered expectations, Sunday’s showing was brutal. Jacksonville moved the ball at will.
The Jets' defense, stripped of its stars and cohesion, offered little more than resistance in name only.
Initially, Glenn stood by his defensive coordinator, Steve Wilks. “We brought Wilks in for a reason.
I want him to run his system,” he said after the game, backing the veteran coach in front of the media. But by Monday, that support had evaporated.
Wilks was out. Defensive backs coach Chris Harris was promoted to interim defensive coordinator.
It’s a tough decision for any head coach, especially one with a defensive background. Changing play-callers midseason is never ideal, but it’s a clear signal that Glenn and the Jets couldn’t ignore what happened on the field. This wasn’t just a bad day - it was a breaking point.
The timing of the move also speaks volumes. The Jets had already gutted their defense for future draft capital.
What remained was a patchwork unit trying to find its footing. Jacksonville, with Lawrence in rhythm and Doug Pederson dialing up mismatches, exposed every weakness.
It wasn’t just the scoreboard - it was the ease with which the Jags operated. Broken coverages, missed assignments, poor tackling - it was all on display.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, there was at least a flicker of hope. With both Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor sidelined, undrafted rookie Brady Cook got the nod - and for a brief moment, he looked the part.
Cook opened 6-of-8 for 51 yards and a touchdown to Adonai Mitchell, already surpassing Fields' total passing yards from three separate starts this season. It wasn’t enough to change the outcome, but it was a reminder that even in a blowout, there are reps that matter.
For Cook, this stretch is more than mop-up duty. It’s an extended audition. The Jets are evaluating everything right now - from scheme to personnel - and a strong finish from the rookie could carve him a place in the 2026 conversation.
As for Glenn, this is his first real test as a head coach. Firing your defensive coordinator less than 24 hours after defending him publicly isn’t just a personnel move - it’s a statement.
It says the standard hasn’t changed, even if the roster has. It says accountability still matters, even in a rebuild.
The Jets are still deep in the weeds of their reset, but Sunday’s loss - and Monday’s fallout - may mark a turning point. The scoreboard said 48-20. The message was louder: the rebuild is real, and it’s already reshaping the sidelines.