Praise From Afar and Now Up Close for HC Aaron Glenn

Jack Bell

With more than 30 years experience as a football coach, in college and the NFL, the Jets' defensive coordinator Steve Wilks took a step back in 2024 to work as a volunteer adviser at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, in his hometown.

"I had a great relationship with Biff Poggi, the head coach that was there, he invited me out, and it really helped me tremendously," Wilks, 55, said on Thursday during his first encounter with the New York media since HC Aaron Glenn named him DC on Feb. 1. "It was great to reset and recharge, but I learned a lot throughout that process, and I was ready to get back into the saddle."

Wilks, who has had jobs mostly as a defensive assistant and a stint as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals (2018) has long known Glenn from their days in the coaching trenches.

"I have a lot of respect for Aaron, we've known each other over the years," Wilks said. "Never really worked with one another, but we had a lot of conversations, particularly at the Combine, talking philosophy, those kinds of things. So throughout the process, we stayed in contact, and when it narrowed down to the Jets, I got really excited because I've been, from afar ... I know the roster, I know the personnel that we have on the defensive side of the ball, and a lot to work with. And his [Glenn's] relationship with the organization, I felt like it was going to be a great connection with ownership."

In his early assessment, even before the pads come on, Wilks said his view of the defense is that it all starts up front. He spoke glowingly about DTQuinnen Williams, who is preparing for his seventh season with the Jets, and edgeWill McDonald IV, getting ready for his third season with the Green & White.

"Everything we do starts up front," he said. "Stopping the run, getting to the quarterback, creating a new line of scrimmage. And Quinnen is that guy that can do that."

Speaking about McDonald, he added: "Will is phenomenal, he can get to the passer. Will is a lot more physical and stronger than what I anticipated and saw from afar, for us being able to be stopped in the run game. So it's always that fluctuation and with his weight, and that's something that he has to control with the strength staff, which we have a tremendous group of guys there. But his effort, his approach each and every day ... I'm on board with him. Man, I'm excited about what he can do, and I'm looking forward to a great season from him."

He also praised the early work of two D-tackles signed in free agency,Jay TufeleandByron Cowart, and also mentioned second-year player Leonard Taylor III.

Backstopping the D-line, Wilks name-checked the Jets' linebacking corps and the team's defensive backfield, which is led bySauce Gardner.

"When you look at the second level, you talk about Quincy [Williams], you talk about [Jamien] Sherwood, two great linebackers that I'm excited about," he said. "They're working well together right now. Sherwood [last season] stepped up, taking a leadership role. And when you look at the perimeter Sauce, Brandon Stephens, that we brought in, AZ [Azareye'h Thomas], who we drafted, three phenomenal guys that can do the things that we want them to do."

In his previous chats with the media, Glenn has emphasized an approach that he hopes will empower Jets players by tailoring schemes on offense and defense to their strengths and not attempting to pigeonhole them into an inflexible plan. Wilks is 100% on board with that.

"I really think it's a collaboration of both our schemes and what we're trying to get done," he said. "But most importantly, as coach AG talks about all the time, it's not really about our playbook. It's about our play style. And that's the thing that we're trying to emphasize and communicate with these guys. You know the physicality, you know the effort, the demand, being smart, not beating ourselves. Understand the situation of football, and we're going to make sure that we cater to our players. I think that's a great thing as a coach. Who do you have? What can they do? Put them in the best position to be successful."