It has flown under the radar, but the Jets are in need of a new defensive coordinator. Steve Wilks was fired after the team’s Week 15 blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. While Chris Harris handled defensive coordinator duties on an interim basis for the final three games, the team is seeking a permanent replacement.
The Jets announced they have completed interviews with eight candidates.
A number
of the candidates have past ties to the Jets.
As mentioned above, Harris served as interim defensive coordinator for the final three games of the 2025 season after starting the year as the defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator.
Leonhard, the Broncos assistant head coach and passing game coordinator, is a familiar name to Jets fans. He was a starting safety for the team from 2009 through 2011.
O’Neil served on Rex Ryan’s coaching staff first as a quality control coach in 2009 and then as assistant defensive backs coach from 2010 through 2012.
