Latest news with #SteveWilks
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jets' Sauce Gardner Gets Strong Praise From Veteran Coaches
Jets' Sauce Gardner Gets Strong Praise From Veteran Coaches originally appeared on Athlon Sports. FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- When he is at the top of his game, New York Jets All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner is the best in the league. Advertisement The former fourth overall pick was the first defensive back in NFL history to be named a first-team All-Pro in his first two seasons. After a strong start to his career, though, Gardner struggled last season. He was still a Pro Bowl player but was penalized more for his aggressive style and struggled to tackle throughout the 2024 campaign. Under a new coaching staff, Gardner's expectations are back to where they were after 2023. Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks believes he can get the most out of their new star. "It's so many things that I feel like Sauce can do," Wilks said. "Again, the word consistent. He's been a Pro Bowl consistent can he be to take it to another level? Advertisement "And that's one of the things that I challenged him on day one when we had our conversation." It's important to remember that Gardner's worse season was still pretty damn good compared to other players in his position. If he can reduce the penalties and improve his tackling, Gardner should be expected to return to his All-Pro status. According to Wilks, that is precisely what the team expects out of him. And what Gardner expects out of himself. Few cornerbacks in the NFL have the kind of frame that Gardner is working with. Wilks commented about that on Wednesday as part of why consistency is such a focus for the All-Pro this year. Advertisement If Gardner can return to that status in 2023, the Jets' defense will continue to be one of the best in football. Related: Jets Emphasize Key Part of Mandatory Minicamp Related: Jets Continue To Be Pleased With First-Round Pick This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Sauce Gardner present at Jets minicamp while waiting on new contract: Sources
Sauce Gardner is present at the start of the New York Jets' mandatory OTAs, according to league sources. While stars like T.J. Watt (Pittsburgh), Trey Hendrickson (Cincinnati) and Terry McLaurin (Washington) are expected to be absent for the start of minicamps, Gardner and Garrett Wilson, both still on their rookie contracts though now eligible for extensions, continue to show up as the Jets enjoy what has so far been a drama-free spring. Advertisement Both Gardner and Wilson have stated publicly that they want to be Jets 'for life' — while both are also seeking contracts that would make them among the highest-paid at their positions. As for Gardner, specifically: He wants to be the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, which would place him around $30 million per season. He certainly has a case to get it considering he was an All-Pro in each of his first two seasons. He was solid in 2024 too, even if it could be argued it was a down season by his standards. Gardner, who turns 25 in August, is a crucial piece of the Jets' new-look defense with head coach Aaron Glenn and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, one that should deploy more man coverage than it did under Robert Saleh. It should also feature Gardner lining up across the other team's best wide receiver most of the time. As for Wilson: He's less likely to pursue a contract as the highest-paid receiver. That would reach Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson territory, and he's not quite in their class yet. However, he's produced at a remarkable level through three seasons despite turmoil at quarterback and offensive coordinator. Wilson, who turns 25 in July, recorded three straight 1,000-yard seasons and is in line to get the ball a lot in 2025 while playing his college quarterback (Justin Fields) and in an offense without a clearly defined second option in the passing game. Wilson's frustration was a topic of conversation as the Jets bumbled their way to a five-win season last year. If the franchise continued to struggle, he might have looked to move from the organization. But Wilson has been a fan of the Jets' offseason moves — both in terms of coaching and quarterback — and a couple weeks ago stated his desire to be here long-term. It hasn't hurt that he's shown up for every offseason workout and OTA practice. Gardner missed at least one voluntary practice but has mostly been present this offseason too. Advertisement 'I want to be a part of something special,' Wilson said a couple weeks ago during OTAs. 'I don't think that a whole bunch of individuals makes something special. As a group aspect, this is a group thing and I wanted to get in and know my teammates. I want to get in to know my coaches, even. This is a new staff. Learn the material that they're putting out and not be the guy that's behind when this thing is mandatory (in minicamp in June), right? There's a way you go about business when you love what you do.'
New York Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Steve Wilks and Aaron Glenn's styles make for unique Jets pairing after years of comparing notes
The last defensive play that Steve Wilks called ended in Mecole Hardman's Super Bowl-winning walk-off touchdown catch. It's been nearly 500 days since the Chiefs beat the 49ers in the 2024 Super Bowl, and Wilks — who was fired days after that game — is back in the NFL as Jets defensive coordinator. Advertisement After spending last season as a college volunteer assistant coach at Charlotte, Wilks is calling plays under defensive-minded Aaron Glenn as part of Glenn's effort to become a CEO-style head coach. 'It's not really about our playbook,' Wilks said. 'It's about our play style.'
New York Post
14-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Jets 2025 NFL schedule takeaways: Easiest and toughest games
The full 2025 NFL schedule was released Wednesday. Here is how the Jets schedule shapes up: Three Toughest Games Week 8 at Bengals: This should be a good test for the defense of Aaron Glenn and Steve Wilks. Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins will stress defensive coaches out. The Bengals defense is not as strong, and maybe the Jets offense will be hitting its stride in late October. 3 AP Week 12 at Ravens: Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are going to be among the favorites to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. This game comes in late November, when we should have a good idea of who the Jets are. Will they surprise people and be playing for something or already looking ahead to the 2026 draft? Week 18 at Bills: Who wants to go to Buffalo in January? It will be cold and miserable and the Jets may be dreaming of vacation. This is also going to be the final regular-season game in Buffalo's stadium. So, expect a parade of Bills greats to come out before the game and the crowd to be … well hydrated.
USA Today
29-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Panthers interim HC Steve Wilks to be hired as new Jets DC
Former Carolina Panthers coach Steve Wilks is landing in 'The Big Apple.' Advertisement As first reported by NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero this evening, Wilks is set to be hired as the new defensive coordinator of the New York Jets. A contract, per ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler, is expected to be signed on Thursday. Wilks, a Charlotte, N.C. native spent a total of seven years on Carolina's sidelines—where he worked as a defensive backs coach (2012 to 2016), assistant head coach (2015 to 2016), defensive coordinator (2017) and defensive passing game coordinator/secondary coach/interim head coach (2022). The Panthers, in 12 games under Wilks in 2022, went 6-6 and finished one game behind the NFC South-winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After parting ways with the Panthers following their 2023 hire of Frank Reich, Wilks was hired as the defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers. But despite helping the Niners reach Super Bowl LVIII, as his unit allowed the third-fewest points per game (17.5), Wilks was dismissed after just one year. He did not coach in the NFL this past season.
