5 potential Panthers head coaching candidates with soaring stock

Carolina Panthers should consider Steve Wilks

It’s been a short sample size for interim head coach Steve Wilks, but the complete change in the Carolina Panthers is night and day compared to Matt Rhule’s disastrous stint with the organization.

There is a sense of purpose. Of organization. Of pride.

And that has been sorely lacking.

You can just tell by listening to Wilks that this is an NFL coach. He holds himself and his players accountable, is bringing everyone closer together, and the performances are much improved from anything we saw over the last two seasons under Rhule.

Wilks is getting a prolonged audition for the job. It’s not the easiest of situations made worse by trading Christian McCaffrey and Robbie Anderson, but the former Arizona Cardinals head coach has each player believing they are capable of something better.

This was always a riddle Rhule couldn’t solve. And the emotion following Carolina’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is further proof of the good work being done in such a short space of time.

It’s been an encouraging start for Wilks. One that could have seen the Panthers surge to the NFC South’s summit had things gone their way late on at the Atlanta Falcons.

Wilks couldn’t have left a better impression over his first three weeks as the interim. If this trend continues, David Tepper would likely give strong thought to making this move permanent.