Wilks: Remaining with the Panthers could be best
Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks remains a head coach candidate but has yet to find a new home…
Steve Wilks and Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera worked together for three seasons with both the Chicago Bears and San Diego Chargers before joining forces in Carolina. Beginning as defensive backs coach in 2012, Wilks was promoted to assistant head coach in 2015 and defensive coordinator prior to last year.
The exit of now Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott opened the door for Wilks but promoting from within eased the burden of transitioning into a new defensive scheme. Fortunately, for Wilks and his players both were familiar with a lot of the terminology used and other than a tendency to bring more pressure and expanded big nickel sub-package, much of the Carolina defense looked the same.
For a group consistently ranking in the top-10 for fewest yards allowed, including last season and five of Wilks’ six with Carolina, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If he leaves however, replacing both coordinators during the same offseason in addition to a change in team ownership could make for a significantly different looking team next year.
Wilks has interviewed with the New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts and is now scheduled to visit with the Tennessee Titans due to the recent firing of Mike Mularky. He remains a candidate in Arizona but both the Giants and Colts are expected to hire other candidates.
There is no doubt that Wilks has earned the right to be a head coach in the NFL, but he is a Charlotte native with strong ties to the community where he currently resides. In 1995, his coaching career began at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte as defensive coordinator and currently he is able to coach at the highest level in his hometown.
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While Rivera has done a good job as coach of the Panthers and recently signed an extension, if Wilks remains with Carolina he would be a strong candidate to take over if the new ownership is not pleased with Rivera’s performance over the next few years.
Veteran linebacker Thomas Davis has already revealed that 2018 will be his last season before retirement, regardless of who occupies the defensive coordinator position, but staying could help persuade another player into returning.
Defensive lineman Julius Peppers came back to the Panthers after seven seasons away in Chicago and Green Bay. At 37 years old he accumulated 11 sacks and 33 tackles while adding two forced fumbles and recoveries. Adding to his Hall of Fame career, Peppers could be enticed into another season should Wilks stay.
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Surrounded by an inordinate amount of changes, providing a sense of solidarity along with Rivera could eventually be in the best interest for both Wilks and the Panthers.