Chris Harris has been well-regarded inside NFL circles as an up-and-coming coach.
He now will get the most important alternative of his teaching profession, as Harris was named the Jets’ interim defensive coordinator following Monday’s firing of Steve Wilks.
Harris, who was the Jets’ defensive backs coach and passing recreation coordinator, will take over because the defensive playcaller with three video games remaining.
“I will be assisting him as the week goes by on the game-planning,” head coach Aaron Glenn stated. “But I’ve said this before: This is the league of change, and this will be a good opportunity for him.”
Right here’s what that you must find out about Harris forward of Sunday’s highway recreation towards the New Orleans Saints.
FORMER PLAYER
Harris performed eight NFL seasons from 2005-12 as a security, totaling 101 appearances for the Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Initially a sixth-round choose by the Bears, Harris intercepted a cross thrown by Peyton Manning in Tremendous Bowl XLI in February 2007, a recreation the Indianapolis Colts received, 29-17.
Harris delivered his greatest season in 2010, when he recorded a career-high 5 interceptions and earned second-team All-Professional honors throughout his second stint with Chicago.
He additionally led the NFL with eight compelled fumbles in 2007 as a member of the Panthers.
To not be confused with Chris Harris Jr. — a former four-time Professional Bowl cornerback with the Denver Broncos — the Jets’ Harris completed his enjoying profession with 88 begins, 16 interceptions, 439 tackles and 13 compelled fumbles.
COACHING CAREER
Harris has been an NFL coach for greater than a decade.
He was the Bears’ defensive high quality management coach from 2013-14; the Chargers’ assistant defensive backs coach from 2016-19; and the Washington Commanders’ defensive backs coach from 2020-22.
Earlier than the Jets employed him to an analogous position, Harris was the Tennessee Titans’ defensive cross recreation coordinator and cornerbacks coach from 2023-24.
The Jets interviewed Harris for his or her defensive coordinator opening final offseason earlier than hiring him to Wilks’ employees.
Though this shall be Harris’ first time as a coordinator, he has known as performs in the course of the preseason.
In November, NFL Media included Harris amongst its “NFL coaches to watch in future years.”
STRUGGLING DEFENSE
Harris is now tasked with enhancing an embattled Jets unit that ranks twentieth in complete protection (337.4 yards per recreation) and thirtieth in scoring protection (28.4 factors per recreation).
The Jets are the one group that has not recorded an interception this season, and their three takeaways rank useless final within the NFL, too.
Glenn fired Wilks lower than 24 hours after the Jets (3-11) surrendered six complete touchdowns to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence in a humbling 48-20 loss in Jacksonville.
“I want to see consistent improvement,” Glenn stated Monday of the Jets’ protection transferring ahead. “I want to see structure that’s consistent. I want to see play that’s consistent.”
After they face the lowly Saints this Sunday, the Jets have video games remaining towards the New England Patriots and Buffalo Payments — two of the NFL’s highest-powered offenses.
GAUGING GLENN
The season-long struggles of the Jets’ protection stay a shock, contemplating it was among the many NFL’s higher models final 12 months and that the first-year head coach Glenn — a former Jets cornerback and Detroit Lions defensive coordinator — comes from that aspect of the ball.
However the Jets have allowed not less than 27 factors in 9 of their 14 video games this season, together with six earlier than they traded away defensive deal with Quinnen Williams and cornerback Sauce Gardner.
Wilks, 56, was one of many first coaches employed by Glenn, and he grew to become the primary to be fired.
However this isn’t the primary main change made by Glenn, who benched quarterback Justin Fields final month in favor of veteran Tyrod Taylor.
“I want to see the culture of this football team these last three games,” Glenn stated. “That’s what I’m evaluating also. I don’t think we have a culture problem, but I want to make sure the things that we’ve been building up to this point stays exactly where it is, and even improves.”
