Jets Officially Hire Gregg Williams As New Defensive Coordinator

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By WFAN.com

The Jets coaching staff is coming together piece by piece. 

Adam Gase has been introduced to the media as the team's new head coach, and now the Jets have confirmed the first major hire of the Gase Era. Gregg Williams is the team's new defensive coordinator. 

OFFICIAL: We've hired Gregg Williams as defensive coordinator.-- https://t.co/X4QElnsa9Y pic.twitter.com/I9iliEXXQT

— New York Jets (@nyjets) January 16, 2019

Williams spent 2018 with the Browns, where he started the season as defensive coordinator before being elevated to be their interim head coach after the organization fired Hue Jackson. Cleveland finished the season 5-3 under Williams’ command.

The 60-year-old is known as a fiery competitor who excels at motivating his players, but that has brought controversy in the past. During his time in New Orleans he was found culpable in the “Bountygate” scandal and was subsequently suspended indefinitely from the league, only to be reinstated after missing one season.

Since then, he has rehabiltated his image and become one of the game's best defensive coaches. 

Vance Joseph was also in the running for the position, but ended up taking the Arizona Cardinals' DC job. Still, Williams was reportedly Gase's first choice for the role. 

The Jets also confirmed on Wednesday that they had retained Brant Boyer as their special teams coordinator.