Chris Harris has been well-regarded within NFL circles as an up-and-coming coach. He now gets the biggest opportunity of his coaching career, as Harris was named the Jets’ interim defensive coordinator following Monday’s firing of Steve Wilks. Harris, who was the Jets’ defensive backs coach an d passing game coordinator, will take over as the defensive playcaller with three games remaining. “I will be assisting him as the week goes by on the game-planning,” head coach Aaron Glenn said. “But I’ve said this before: This is the league of change, and this will be a good opportunity for him.” Here’s what you need to know about Harris ahead of Sunday’s road game against the New Orleans Saints. FORMER PLAYER Harris played eight NFL seasons from 2005-12 as a safety, totaling 101 appearances for the Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars. Originally a sixth-round pick by the Bears, Harris intercepted a pass thrown by Peyton Manning in Super Bowl XLI in February 2007, a game the Indianapolis Colts won, 29-17. Harris delivered his best season in 2010, when he recorded a career-high five interceptions and earned second-team All-Pro honors during his second stint with Chicago. He also led the NFL with eight forced fumbles in 2007 as a member of the Panthers. Not to be confused with Chris Harris Jr. — a former four-time Pro Bowl cornerback with the Denver Broncos — the Jets’ Harris finished his playing career with 88 starts, 16 interceptions, 439 tackles and 13 forced fumbles. COACHING CAREER Harris has been an NFL coach for more than a decade. He was the Bears’ defensive quality control coach from 2013-14; the Chargers’ assistant defensive backs coach from 2016-19; and the Washington Commanders’ defensive backs coach from 2020-22. Before the Jets hired him to a similar role, Harris was the Tennessee Titans’ defensive pass game coordinator and cornerbacks coach from 2023-24. The Jets interviewed Harris for their defensive coordinator opening last offseason before hiring him to Wilks’ staff. Although this will be Harris’ first time as a coordinator, he has called plays during the preseason. In November, NFL Media included Harris among its “NFL coaches to watch in future years.” STRUGGLING DEFENSE Harris is now tasked with improving an embattled Jets unit that ranks 20th in total defense (337.4 yards per game) and 30th in scoring defense (28.4 points per game). The Jets are the only team that has not recorded an interception this season, and their three takeaways rank dead last in the NFL, too. Glenn fired Wilks less than 24 hours after the Jets (3-11) surrendered six total touchdowns to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence in a humbling 48-20 loss in Jacksonville. “I want to see consistent improvement,” Glenn said Monday of the Jets’ defense moving forward. “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 games remaining against the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills — two of the NFL’s highest-powered offenses. GAUGING GLENN The season-long struggles of the Jets’ defense remain a surprise, considering it was among the NFL’s better units last year and that the first-year head coach Glenn — a former Jets cornerback and Detroit Lions defensive coordinator — comes from that side of the ball. But the Jets have allowed at least 27 points in nine of their 14 games this season, including six before they traded away defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and cornerback Sauce Gardner. Wilks, 56, was one of the first coaches hired by Glenn, and he became the first to be fired. But this isn’t the first major change made by Glenn, who benched quarterback Justin Fields last month in favor of veteran Tyrod Taylor. “I want to see the culture of this football team these last three games,” Glenn said. “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.” ...read more read less