4 burning questions Carolina Panthers fans are asking ahead of Week 17

Is Steve Wilks the Carolina Panthers head-coaching frontrunner?

Will owner David Tepper have sense and hire Steve Wilks to be the next head coach? – RaMoon

I hope so, RaMoon. Following the results of this past Saturday’s game against the Detroit Lions, and no matter the results of the next two games, Steve Wilks has made himself the frontrunner for the Carolina Panthers head coach position.

Wilks’ performance has been outstanding considering all of the circumstances and the current situation. He doesn’t have a creative offensive coordinator. He doesn’t have an elite quarterback (yet). The team’s best player was traded and its second-best was almost sent away for hefty draft capital.

Despite this, the Panthers have been playing competitive football weekly thanks to the former Charlotte H.S. quarterback. He has gotten the best out of his players on both sides of the ball, including Sam Darnold, who is enjoying the best four-game stretch of his turbulent career.

If this were college football, Wilks would’ve been made the head coach moving forward following the game against the Lions with a long-term, Matt Rhule-type deal completed. Unfortunately, the NFL has the Rooney Rule and team owner David Tepper needs to interview other candidates for the vacant head coaching gig.

Also, if Wilks is not brought back as the head man, other candidates such as DeMeco Ryans, Frank Reich, and Shane Steichen would be well-deserving of being hired by Tepper.