The New York Jets host the Carolina Panthers in Week 7. Ahead of that matchup, defensive coordinator Steve Wilks was asked if this game carries any extra significance considering it’s his old team.
“To be quite honest, no,” Wilks bluntly told the media on Thursday, October 16. “When you look at the next game mindset and where we are right now, it is just really trying to create some consistency in what we had last week defensively and trying to put together another great performance. So to be honest, no,” Wilks explained.
### The Panthers-Wilks Multiverse
Wilks, 56, was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the Panthers are headquartered. He was raised in the area, attended West Charlotte High School, and went to college at Appalachian State in Boone, North Carolina. After college, he played a year of Arena Football for the Charlotte Rage in 1993.
Wilks quickly hung up his cleats and transitioned into coaching, a career he has pursued for the last 30 years. He was hired by the Carolina Panthers in 2012 and spent six seasons there through 2017 in a variety of roles including defensive backs coach, assistant head coach, and defensive coordinator.
He returned to the Panthers for a second stint in 2022, initially serving as the defensive passing game coordinator and secondary coach. After head coach Matt Rhule was fired in October, Wilks was named the interim head coach for the final 12 games of that season.
He rallied the Panthers, who finished with a 6-6 record under his leadership. Wilks did such a terrific job that nearly the entire locker room believed he deserved the permanent head coaching job, according to ESPN’s David Newton. Wilks interviewed for the permanent position after the season but was ultimately passed over for Frank Reich. Reich was later fired in November of his first season with Carolina.
### Can Lightning Strike Twice in the Same Place for the Jets?
The Jets are currently 0-6 on the season, but the reason they lost in Week 6 wasn’t due to their defense. For the first time all season, the Jets’ defense made a significant impact.
It was an impressive defensive performance that left many wondering where that level of play had been all season. Quarterback Bo Nix was limited to just 174 passing yards, the Denver Broncos’ run game was stifled to 78 rushing yards, and the Jets forced their first takeaway of the season.
Was this just a one-time blip, or a sign of things to come?
“I think it’s our approach in practice, and I think it really starts with our players. There is tremendous character in that room and in how those guys come to work. Regardless of the record — the record is what it is, but you wouldn’t know that based on how we operate in the building,” Wilks said.
“I have talked to the guys about this, and we all agree, we’ve got to find one or two more plays. It was great to get our first takeaway; we’ve got to find the ability to get one more,” Wilks explained. “We are still finding ways within ourselves, even though it was a good performance, we gotta do better. That is the thing that is intriguing with these guys — they want to.”
### Jets Have to Take Advantage
The good news for the Jets’ defense is that their schedule is lightening up. Over the next month, they will face quarterbacks Bryce Young, Joe Flacco, and Dillon Gabriel, with a bye week sprinkled in the middle. These aren’t daunting opponents.
If the Jets’ defense can’t capitalize against these passers, it’s going to continue to be a long year on the defensive side of the ball.
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