Why interim coordinator Chris Harris has mixed feelings over Jets promotion
NY Post
Chris Harris is grateful for his promotion from defensive backs coach to interim defensive coordinator for the Jets for the final three games of the season, following the firing earlier this week of veteran coach Steve Wilks.
But Harris, who played for eight seasons as a safety with four NFL teams, isn’t necessarily viewing the step up as a positive reflection of the coaching job he’s done this season with the 30th-ranked scoring defense in the league.
“This isn’t ideal. Nobody wants to go through this during the season,” Harris said before Thursday’s practice in Florham Park. “It’s something I definitely aspired to do, and I’m grateful for the opportunity that [head coach Aaron Glenn has] given me. With Steve, I learned a lot from him…and what happened is not an indictment on him. it’s on the entire defensive staff, and we just have to do better.
“Ultimately, this is on all of us as a coaching staff. I want to thank AG for putting me in this position, but again, it’s not about me. Our focus is getting ready to play the Saints and trying to put the best product on the field.”
The 56-year-old Wilks was axed on Monday, one day after the Jets — who traded former Pro Bowlers Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams in November — suffered a 48-20 trouncing by the Jaguars to fall to 3-11 entering this week’s road game against the Saints.
“Steve is a good friend of mine and I wish him well. He’s a great person,” the 43-year-old Harris said. “So it’s just one of those things that happened, one of those things, unfortunately, in this business. Those things happen. But again, it’s not an indictment on Steve. I have to get better, and our entire coaching staff, it’s on all of us.”
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