4 defensive coordinator candidates if Panthers retain Steve Wilks in 2023

Carolina Panthers could hire Sean Desai

Sean Desai was hired as an associate defensive head coach for the Seattle Seahawks in February 2022. It would probably take some convincing to get him to relinquish that post, but it doesn’t seem entirely out of reach.

Desai does have one season of experience as a defensive coordinator, which came with the Chicago Bears in 2021. While the statistics don’t necessarily reflect his season as an indisputable triumph, his impact was still thought of highly enough to receive considerable attention on the open market.

Also, Desai managed to retain a coaching position with the Bears through three different head coaches, one of whom was former Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox. Not only this, but he also climbed the ranks.

The first six years of Desai’s coaching career were spent in college football, serving as defensive and special teams coach for Temple University and Boston College. He then took up the assistant director of football operations position at Miami.

In 2013, Desai moved to the Bears. Marc Trestman, his first head coach, couldn’t be more glowing in his praise when discussing the coach’s credentials.

"“There’s not many guys who are able to do that. The ones who do, it’s their adaptability, their presence, their intelligence. There’s a lot that goes into it. When coaches are interviewing, they’re always looking to find people that they know, that they have experience with, so it says a lot about who he is and his ability to adapt and get along and work with others.”"

Spending multiple seasons next to Vic Fangio would be valuable knowledge to call upon in this scenario. If Wilks is retained, then Desai might follow.