The New York Jets are adding a physical mentality to their already talented defensive unit with the addition of Gregg Williams.
The New York Jets are kicking off the Adam Gase era with a huge hire on defensive side of the ball. The team is reportedly wrapping up negotiations with former Cleveland Browns interim head coach, Gregg Williams, to become the team’s defensive coordinator.
Williams enjoyed success in Cleveland this season after taking on the task of being a head coach for the second time in his coaching career. The ex-Browns defensive coordinator took over for former head coach, Hue Jackson, when the team dismissed him after two-plus seasons. Williams went 5-3 as the interim head coach, but the team opted to hire Freddie Kitchens for the lead job instead of Williams.
Williams is a well-known coach around the league. He’s served time as the Buffalo Bills head coach, while also manning the defensive coordinator title with the Tennessee, Jacksonville, New Orleans and with the St.Louis before his stint in Cleveland.
The long-time defensive minded coach was also under the spotlight during his tenure with the New Orleans Saints. There was a scandal that ultimately was labeled “Bounty Gate” that proved Williams and countless others on the Saints staff were paying players compensation for injuring the opponent. The entire Saints organization paid the price, but Williams was handed an indefinite suspension for his role in the controversy.
Williams finally returned to the league in 2013, after serving a season away from football due to the suspension, and has been coaching in the league ever since. He heads to the Jets in charge of handling a defense headlined by star safety, Jamal Adams, and brings his aggressive style to a team that is searching for its identity.
The aggressive style approach Williams runs in his 4-3 schemes could be exactly what this Jets team needs moving on from ex-head coach Todd Bowles. The Jets gave up the 19th most touchdowns in 2018, while Williams’ Browns defense gave up the third fewest.
Williams’ style of coaching could be just what the Jets’ secondary needs moving forward. Gase is already taking care of business. His worries are strictly on the offensive side of the ball with Williams manning the defense, and that will be vital for his success in New York.