As a safety in the NFL for eight seasons, the Jets' new defensive coordinator Chris Harris usually had a bird's-eye view of his team's defense in front of him -- kind of like how a quarterback sees the field on offense.

Now, after working as a defensive assistant with five teams in the league since 2013, Harris brings that knowledge and perspective as he earned his first shot as the defensive coordinator when Jets HC Aaron Glenn named him this week to replace Steve Wilks. Harris came to the Jets last January after two seasons as Tennessee's defensive pass game coordinator/cornerbacks.

"He had other DC opportunities or interviews before this year, and we actually interviewed him ourselves, and he did a really good job in an interview," Glenn said. "So I think he's more than capable. I think he's more than ready to step into the role and do a good job."

The soft-spoken Harris, whose Titans defense last season was No. 2 in net passing yards allowed per game (177.3) and was No. 1 in red-zone efficiency (37.7%) in 2023, had kind words for Wilks saying, "Steve's a good coach, a good friend of mine."

"I want to thank AG for putting me in this position, but again, it's not about me," Harris said. "Our focus is on getting ready to play the Saints, and I'm trying to put the best product out there on the field.

"Again, it's just that ... it's an opportunity. But the thing is, it's not about me. It's just all about us defensively, trying to make sure we're doing all the right things we need to do ... and come out there and have success against the Saints."

New Orleans (4-10) has won 3 of its last 5 games sparked by its own rookie QB, Tyler Shough (3-3 as a starter), who has a budding connection with WR Chris Olave, who has 30 catches for 393 yards since Shough took over from Spencer Rattler. The Jets' defensive backfield, which has been hit by injuries to Azareye'h Thomas (shoulder), Andre Cisco (pectoral), Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (hip), Tony Adams (groin) and Isaiah Oliver (knee), is still a unit that is No. 12 in the league against the pass (allowing 200.1 yards a game). CB Brandon Stephens, signed in free agency in the offseason, is literally the last man standing from the group that began the season as the starters in early September.

"This is [his] first time in this position," Stephens said of Harris. "So we just got to have his back and I'm sure he's going to put us in positions to succeed. And so we just have to go out there and execute. We just need all hands on deck going into this game and he just put the onus on us to like I said, have his back and go out and execute."

With Harris, 43, taking over so deep into the season with three games (at New Orleans, vs. New England and at Buffalo) to play, Glenn said there's probably only the opportunity to tweak the Jets' defensive scheme.

"I think sometimes people think that it's going to be just wholesale scheme changes," Glenn said. "You can't do that to the players. It's not just three games left, it's just everything, all the work they've put in up until this point, and to try a whole new system will be tough on the players. Now, there are also some wrinkles that he wants to do himself. And, man, I applaud that."