The New York Jets have made a decisive move on the defensive side of the ball, parting ways with coordinator Steve Wilks just three weeks before the season wraps. After a year marked by underperformance and late-season collapse, head coach Aaron Glenn made the call to shake things up.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t just about a couple of bad games. The cracks had been showing all season, but things fully unraveled in Wilks’ final two outings, when the Jets gave up a staggering 82 points. That kind of defensive breakdown isn’t just a bad stretch - it’s a red flag that the system just wasn’t working.
And the numbers tell the story. Over 15 weeks, New York ranked 29th against the run and 30th in scoring defense.
That’s near the bottom of the league, and it wasn’t for lack of talent. The issue was schematic - Wilks stuck to his guns, even when the results begged for change.
One of the most glaring problems? The refusal to lean more heavily on zone coverage, especially on third downs, where the Jets consistently got burned.
But perhaps the most damning stat of all: zero interceptions in 15 games. That’s not just bad - it’s historic.
The Jets set an NFL record for consecutive games without a pick. In a league where turnovers often decide games, going without a single interception that long is almost unthinkable.
Now, the focus shifts to what’s next - and one name already stands out: Al Harris.
If you’re looking for someone who knows how to rebuild a secondary from the ground up, Harris checks every box. The former All-Pro cornerback, who played 14 years in the league, has been steadily climbing the coaching ranks. He started with lower-profile gigs in Kansas City, Florida Atlantic, and Miami before landing a more prominent role in Dallas in 2020.
That’s where things really started to click.
In his first year as the Cowboys’ defensive backs coach, Harris inherited a secondary that was middle-of-the-pack at best - 17th in pass defense DVOA and tied for the fewest interceptions in the league. But by Year 2, the transformation was undeniable.
Dallas rocketed to second in pass-defense DVOA and led the league in both interceptions (26) and total takeaways (34). That kind of leap doesn’t happen by accident.
And the individual performances under Harris were just as impressive. Trevon Diggs exploded in 2021 with a league-leading 11 interceptions.
Two years later, DaRon Bland followed suit, grabbing nine picks to top the NFL in 2023. Harris didn’t just improve the unit - he elevated players to career-best seasons.
This year, Harris took his talents to Chicago, joining the Bears as the defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator. Once again, the turnaround was swift and dramatic.
Last season, the Bears were near the bottom in pass defense DVOA (28th) and finished 22nd in interceptions. Fast forward one year, and they’re leading the league with 21 picks and have climbed to 15th in pass-defense DVOA. That’s a massive jump, and it speaks directly to Harris’ ability to instill confidence and create a ball-hawking mentality in the secondary.
What makes Harris a particularly intriguing fit for the Jets is his preference for man coverage - a scheme the Bears currently run heavily, ranking ninth in man usage. New York already has the personnel to match that style, with corners like Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Azareye’h Thomas, and Brandon Stephens built to thrive in man-heavy systems.
There’s a clear pattern wherever Harris goes: the secondary gets sharper, more aggressive, and significantly more productive. If the Jets are serious about turning their defense around - and especially about fixing their historically bad turnover numbers - Harris might be exactly the kind of voice they need in the room.
The defense has talent. What it needs now is the right architect. Al Harris has shown, time and again, he knows how to build something special.