New York Jets coaching staff begins to take shape

The New York Jets have begun to fill out their coaching staff, as they brought a defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator and offensive line coach aboard in a busy day of hiring.

Steve Wilks was hired as the new defensive coordinator. Wilks has a long history of coaching at both the college and the NFL levels. He got his start coaching in 1995 at Johnson C. University as defensive coordinator. He proceeded to work his way up the college ladder, with short stints at Savannah State, Illinois State, Appalachian State, East Tennessee State, Bowling Green, and finally Notre Dame in 2004. After a year as Notre Dame’s defensive backs coach Wilks moved on to the NFL.

Wilks broke in with Washington as defensive backs coach in 2005, followed by stints with the Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers and Carolina Panthers. At Carolina Wilks worked his way from defensive backs coach to defensive coordinator and assistant head coach.

In 2018 Wilks was hired as head coach by the Arizona Cardinals, but he lasted just one year. He was fired after going 3 – 13 in the infamous Josh Rosen rookie year. Wilks continued a nomadic life, working as Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator in 2019, University of Missouri defensive coordinator in 2021, and Carolina Panthers defensive passing game coordinator and secondary coach in 2022. When the Panthers head coach was fired Wilks took over as interim head coach in 2022 and went 6-6, but he was not retained the next season. Wilks last worked in the NFL in 2023, when he was the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator.

Wilks coached two Super Bowl teams: the 2017 Carolina Panthers as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach, and the 2023 San Francisco 49ers as defensive coordinator. He brings a wealth of experience to the Jets, including head coaching experience, which should prove invaluable for first time head coach Aaron Glenn.

The Jets hired Steve Heiden as offensive line coach. Heiden had an 11 year career as an NFL tight end with the San Diego Chargers and Cleveland Browns from 1999 through 2009. He got his start coaching with the Arizona Cardinals, where he served as assistant special teams coach and assistant tight ends coach from 2013 through 2017. In 2018 he served as assistant offensive line coach with the Cardinals, and he was promoted to tight ends coach in 2019. He served as the Cardinals tight ends coach through 2022. In 2023 the Detroit Lions hired Heiden as tight ends coach, and Heiden remained in that position until the Jets hired him.

The Jets also hired Chris Banjo as special teams coordinator. Banjo has the least experience of the three coaches hired by the Jets. He had a 10 year playing career as an NFL safety with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals from 2013 through 2022. After the 2022 season the Denver Broncos gave Banjo his start as an NFL coach when they hired him as assistant special teams coach in 2023. He remained in that position until the Jets hired Banjo as special teams coordinator.

With these hires the only Jets top coaching position that remains open is offensive coordinator. Detroit Lions passing game coordinator Tanner Ergstrand is rumored to be the favorite for that position. Perhaps the Jets will finalize his hiring shortly.

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