Similar exuses could be said about Wilks though. #3 rated defense, went to SB. Didn't get along with Shanahan. Was fired as a HC before, then interim HC, not a DC, etc... He had the same # of excuses and even better pedigree with more recent top defense and SB appearance, which is why we ignored the fact he was being let go by everyone to begin with. But I think there is something to be said when you keep getting let go pretty frequently (even in spite of SB appearance in Wilks case). We can excuse one, but can we excuse 3 so quickly? I see this as almost identical situation. If you think excuses for Wilks less genuine than for Wink, we just have to disagree there. Now, there is a possibility where Glenn hires Wink to run full on Glenn's scheme and use him to develop defensive players. That would be better. I am not sure how good his recent record is developing players either though.
Btw, @BroadwayAaron, looks like there was a similar discussion on Wink vs Wilks on ESPN: https://x.com/BoyGreen25/status/2015478562074067214 So, let's not refer to it as absurd as clearly there is at least a discussion to be had there. Dick Chimney made exact point as you about age, and then proceeded with the main point: "Show me any point in his career where he had success as a defensive coordinator. At least Wink has had success as a defensive coordinator." Yes, Wink did have success, with the last time being #2 rated defense in Baltimore 6 years ago, which he then dropped to 19 the following year and was let go. Then let go two more times after. Steve Wilks had success just two years before he was hired by the Jets in SF, where he led #3 rated defense, and went to SB for fuck's sake, come on now! Again, if Wink is hired, Glenn needs to do something different, like have him run Glenn's defense, with a few quirks. But then again, what would be the value compared to say O'Neil from Detroit? Did Wink do a good job developing players in his last year in Baltimore? The Giants stint? Michigan stint? Did he help hire great defensive staff there? Usually people who do that don't get let go 3 times in 4 years if they do that. Unless maybe his scheme was just outdated.
Dennard Wilson hired as the Giants DC. Which means Leonhard has no known interviews for open jobs besides ours.
Even your description of Wilks career has barely any comparison to Wilks so I have no idea where you are getting it from. It also appears the main offense was Wilks moving to different teams 3 out of the last 4 years, even though he was in the Ravens for 9 years and your counting that stop against him in this stat you've created. Wilks has been on a new team, or unemployed, every year since 2018. It's just not comparable on top of they run totally different defenses. You don't need to force a similarity that's not there, you have a good point already regarding recent success.
I’ve said it plenty… often times the armchair GMs have a very different opinion than the actual pros. And in this case it’s not a Jets thing.
He could probably get a job as DC with a new hire HC. Like Buffalo where he started his playing career
The entire careers don't have to be identical to find a similarity. The recent part is what's similar. Again, Wink was let go from 3 different teams in 4 years, including the Ravens you mentioned. They fired him once he had a bad year there in 2021. He was then fired by the Giants after two years and let go by Michigan after two years. If you are telling me Wilks is not identical, OK sure, he lasted 1 year, he was also a HC multiple times. It's not identical, but the similarity is that recently they have been let go a lot. That's the concerning part, not the high level defensive scheme. You are not concerned at all that Wink was let go again and again and again in just 4 last years?
Unfortunately Pats are back in SB. Leonhart though is now available, let's see if he ends up with us.
