An optimist's guide to the 2025 New York Jets

Wilks started his NFL career as a defensive backs coach with the Bears in 2006 and last served as a defensive coordinator with the 49ers in 2023 where his team allowed just 17.5 points per game, third-fewest in the league. He was also head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 and interim head coach of the Panthers in 2022.

2. Aaron Glenn

New York’s new head coach did a lot of winning as defensive coordinator for the Lions over the past four seasons. In 2021, Glenn took over a Detroit defense that allowed a league-worst 32.4 points per game the previous year. Last season, the Lions allowed 20.1 points per contest despite losing All-Pro edge-rusher Aidan Hutchinson to a leg injury after five games.

Glenn’s unit gave up the fifth-fewest rushing yards (98.4) per game last season, something he hopes to continue with the Jets. 

"One thing we know we're going to attack, we'll be better against the run," Glenn told reporters at the NFL owners meetings. "You look back at what I've done over the last couple of years in run defense, we've been pretty good in that aspect, so we're going to try to continue to create that."

As good as New York’s defense performed, the team allowed the 16th-most yards per game on the ground (121.1) last season. 

3. Garrett Wilson

No matter the coach or quarterback, Wilson has proved to be one of the NFL’s best wide receivers since joining the team as a first-round pick in 2022. For the third straight year, Wilson led the Jets in receiving with 1,104 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024, and now, he’ll catch passes from a familiar face.

Wilson and new starting quarterback Justin Fields were teammates at Ohio State where the two combined for 1,781 yards and 11 scores from 2019-2020. Thanks to the draft, Fields wasn’t around for Wilson’s breakout junior season (1,058 yards, 12 touchdowns) but should make up for lost time in 2025.

4. Schedule

Per NFL research, New York will play the seventh-easiest schedule with opponents holding a .460 win percentage from 2024. September could be difficult with the Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and an Aaron Rodgers-led Pittsburgh Steelers team on tap, but things get much better after the team’s Week 9 bye.

Aside from the Baltimore Ravens in Week 12 and the Bills in Week 18, the Jets won’t play another playoff team after the break. More importantly, four of New York’s last eight matchups come against division opponents, giving it an opportunity to gain ground in the AFC East.