Former Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks is set to make his return to the NFL, as he has reportedly been hired by the New York Jets to serve as their new defensive coordinator. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero disclosed this development on Wednesday, indicating that Wilks will be joining the coaching staff under the leadership of new head coach Aaron Glenn. This move comes as Glenn embarks on a mission to revitalize the Jets' performance in the 2025 season.

While Glenn is expected to play a significant role on the defensive side of the ball, having served as the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions for the past four seasons, Wilks brings a wealth of experience as a veteran leader in the coaching realm. His previous tenure as the head coach of the Cardinals in 2018 was marked by challenges, as he was dismissed after one season with a 3-13 record. More recently, during the 2022 campaign, he recorded a .500 record of 6-6 as the interim head coach of the Carolina Panthers. Additionally, Wilks has accumulated extensive coaching experience at the collegiate level, with positions at Illinois State, Appalachian State, East Tennessee State, Bowling Green, Missouri, and Notre Dame.

In the NFL, Wilks has held various roles, including secondary coach for Washington, defensive backs coach for the Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers, and the Carolina Panthers, as well as being the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns and the San Francisco 49ers. Most recently, he served as the defensive coordinator for the 49ers in 2023, guiding the team to a Super Bowl appearance, where they ultimately fell to the Kansas City Chiefs. Under his leadership, San Francisco ranked third in the league for points allowed and eighth in yards allowed, yet the team made the decision to part ways with him following the Super Bowl loss. The Jets, coming off a 5-12 season in 2024, hope to see a considerable improvement in their defensive capabilities, which ranked 20th in the league for points allowed last season. With Glenn's defensive-focused coaching philosophy and Wilks' extensive experience, the Jets appear poised to enhance their defensive performance in the upcoming season.