Tag: Steve Wilks

Jan 1, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Carolina Panthers interm head coach Steve Wilks during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-Imagn Images

Reports: Jets hiring Steve Wilks as defensive coordinator

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Steve Wilks has agreed to terms to be the New York Jets’ defensive coordinator under new head coach Aaron Glenn, multiple media outlets reported Wednesday night.

Wilks, 55, did not coach in the NFL in 2024 after one season as DC in San Francisco. The 49ers fired him after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII.

He was head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2018, lasting one season and going 3-13. Wilks was also interim head coach with the Carolina Panthers in 2022 and was 6-6.

A defensive assistant in the NFL from 2005-17 with Washington, Chicago, San Diego and Carolina, Wilks served as defensive coordinator with the Panthers in 2017 and Cleveland Browns in 2019.

He also was the defensive coordinator at Missouri in 2021, resuming a college coaching career that ran from 1995-2004.

Glenn said at his introductory press conference on Monday that he wasn’t planning to call defensive plays. He was the Detroit Lions’ DC from 2021-24.

“I want to be the best head coach you can find,” said Glenn, who was the Detroit Lions’ defensive coordinator from 2021 through this season. “In order for me to do that, I think I need to manage the game.”

Also Wednesday night, NFL Network reported Glenn hired Steve Heiden as his offensive line coach. Heiden worked with Glenn in Detroit, coaching the tight ends. And Glenn is reportedly set to hire Chris Banjo as special teams coordinator. Banjo was assistant special teams coach for the Denver Broncos this season.

–Field Level Media

Dec 17, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Steve Wilks, Chris Harris interview for Jets’ DC post

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The New York Jets are interviewing Steve Wilks and Chris Harris on Wednesday for their defensive coordinator position, multiple media outlets reported.

New Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said he will not be the team’s defensive play caller.

Wilks, 55, previously served as the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers during the 2023 season. He was fired shortly after the Niners lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.

He also sports a 9-19 record as a head coach with the Arizona Cardinals (2018) and Carolina Panthers (2022), which came as the interim. He’s also been a defensive coordinator with the Panthers in 2017 and Cleveland Browns in 2019.

Harris, 42, was the cornerbacks coach and defensive pass game coordinator for the Tennessee Titans in 2024, but his contract expired at the end of the season. The team announced he would not return.

Harris had 16 career interceptions in 101 games (88 starts) in eight seasons with four teams, last playing in 2012. He was a sixth-round pick of the Chicago Bears in the 2005 draft.

Wilks is the favorite to land the job, according to multiple reports.

Glenn was introduced as the Jets’ head coach on Monday.

–Field Level Media

Oct 29, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers coach Brandon Staley watches from the sidelines against the Chicago Bears in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Report: 49ers to tab Nick Sorensen as DC, add Brandon Staley

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The San Francisco 49ers are promoting Nick Sorensen to defensive coordinator and adding former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley to their staff, ESPN reported on Saturday.

Staley, fired by the Chargers in December, reportedly will be assistant head coach under Kyle Shanahan.

Sorensen, 45, has served as the 49ers’ defensive pass game specialist and nickel cornerbacks coach. He will step into the defensive coordinator role previously held by Steve Wilks, who was fired three days after San Francisco lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII.

Sorensen also has been the special teams coordinator with the Jacksonville Jaguars and a defensive backs coach with the Seattle Seahawks.

Staley, 41, previous served as the defensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams in 2020 before spending the two-plus seasons with the Chargers. He was 24-24 with the Chargers.

Wilks was hired last year to replace DeMeco Ryans, who left to become the head coach of the Houston Texans.

Wilks’ defense held the Chiefs to one touchdown in regulation in the 25-22 Super Bowl loss but gave up 455 yards. San Francisco allowed an NFC-low 17.5 points per game during the regular season.

–Field Level Media

Dec 18, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers head coach Steve Wilks during warm ups at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

49ers fire defensive coordinator Steve Wilks

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San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan announced Wednesday that he has fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, three days after the team’s loss in the Super Bowl.

Shanahan’s announcement comes one day after saying he expected “all our coaches to be back.” It also comes the same day as the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory parade.

Shanahan told reporters on a conference call that Wilks “just ended up being not the right fit.” He added the team will consider in-house and external candidates to take over for Wilks in 2024.

Wilks was hired last year to replace DeMeco Ryans, who left to become the head coach of the Houston Texans.

Wilks’ defense held the Chiefs to one touchdown in regulation in the 25-22 loss on Sunday but gave up 455 yards.

San Francisco allowed an NFC-low 17.5 points per game during the regular season.

The Niners on Wednesday also lost assistant head coach Anthony Lynn to the Washington Commanders, where he is taking on the run game coordinator job for new head coach Dan Quinn. They also lost passing game specialist Klint Kubiak to the New Orleans Saints, who hired him as their offensive coordinator.

Wilks, 54, was the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 and the interim coach of the Carolina Panthers for part of the 2022 season. He has a 9-19 overall record. Wilks began the 2022 season as the Panthers’ passing game coordinator and secondary coach before being named interim head coach after Matt Rhule was fired.

He’s also been a DC with the Panthers in 2017 and Cleveland Browns in 2019.

He interviewed for the head coaching vacancy with the Chargers before they hired Jim Harbaugh.

Wilks has worked with defense throughout the majority of his NFL coaching career. He was in charge of the secondary with the Washington franchise in 2005 and served as the defensive backs coach with the Chicago Bears (2006-08), then-San Diego Chargers (2009-11) and Panthers (2012-17).

–Field Level Media

Jan 1, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Carolina Panthers interm head coach Steve Wilks during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

49ers DC Steve Wilks latest to interview for Chargers’ head-coaching job

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Los Angeles Chargers said Saturday that they interviewed Steve Wilks for their vacant head-coach position.

Wilks, 54, in his first season as the defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers, was the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 and the interim coach of the Carolina Panthers for part of the 2022 season. He has a 9-19 overall record.

NFL Network reported Wilks will interview with the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

As the No. 1 seed in the NFC, the 49ers are on a bye week.

This season, San Francisco has allowed an NFC-low 17.5 points per game.

He has held a variety of college and NFL positions, including as the defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns in 2019 and at the college level with Missouri in 2021. He worked for the Chargers as defensive backs coach from 2009-11.

On Friday, the Chargers confirmed an interview with Todd Monken, the offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens. They also interviewed Patrick Graham, the Las Vegas Raiders’ defensive coordinator, they said Thursday.

The Chargers finished 5-12 in 2023 and fired head coach Brandon Staley through his third season in Los Angeles. The Chargers lost their final three games under interim coach Giff Smith.

–Field Level Media

Dec 18, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers head coach Steve Wilks during warm ups at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: 49ers to tab Steve Wilks as defensive coordinator

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The San Francisco 49ers plan to hire Steve Wilks as their defensive coordinator, NFL Network reported Tuesday.

Wilks will replace DeMeco Ryans, who accepted the head coaching position with the Houston Texans last week.

Wilks, 53, began this past season as the Carolina Panthers’ passing game coordinator and secondary coach. He assumed interim head coaching responsibilities after Matt Rhule was fired on Oct. 10 after a 1-4 start. Wilks guided the team to a 6-6 record.

Wilks interviewed for the Panthers’ head coaching position following the season. That job went to Frank Reich, however.

Wilks will take over a 49ers defense that allowed the fewest points (16.3) and yards per game (300.6) in the NFL in 2022 and generated 30 takeaways.

Wilks has worked with the defense throughout the majority of his NFL coaching career. He was in charge of the secondary with the Washington franchise in 2005 and served as the defensive backs coach with the Chicago Bears (2006-08), then-San Diego Chargers (2009-11) and Panthers (2012-17).

He also guided the Arizona Cardinals to a 3-13 record during his lone season as the team’s head coach in 2018 before once again serving as a defensive coordinator with the Cleveland Browns in 2019.

–Field Level Media

Dec 18, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers head coach Steve Wilks during warm ups at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Steve Wilks’ attorneys ‘shocked and disturbed’ by Panthers’ hire

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Legal representatives for Steve Wilks said Thursday they are “shocked and disturbed” that their client was not hired as the new head coach of the Carolina Panthers.

Shortly after the Panthers officially tabbed Frank Reich as their man, Wigdor Law LLP — a New York City-based law firm representing Wilks in his discrimination suit against the NFL — made its own announcement over social media.

“We are shocked and disturbed that after the incredible job Coach Wilks did as the interim coach, including bringing the team back into Playoff contention and garnering the support of the players and fans, that he was passed over for the Head Coach position by David Tepper,” the firm posted on Twitter.

“There is a legitimate race problem in the NFL, and we can assure you that we will have more to say in the coming days.”

Wilks, 53, went 6-6 as the interim coach of the Panthers after replacing Matt Rhule, who was fired Oct. 10 after a 1-4 start.

Carolina finished with a 7-10 mark and has missed the playoffs in each of the five seasons since Tepper bought the franchise in 2018 for a then-NFL-record $2.275 billion.

Reich is viewed as an offensive-minded coach, which is in stark contrast to the Panthers’ first four head coaches in franchise history. Wilks’ background also was on defense.

On April 7, 2022, Wilks joined fellow Black coach Brian Flores in his discrimination lawsuit against the NFL. Wilks claimed at the time he was a “bridge coach” when he was fired by the Arizona Cardinals after one season and a 3-13 record in 2018.

“This lawsuit has shed further important light on a problem we all know exists, but that too few are willing to confront,” Wilks said in his statement at the time. “Black coaches and candidates should have exactly the same ability to become employed, remain employed, as white coaches and candidates. That is currently not the case.”

Flores filed the lawsuit last February against the NFL, New York Giants, Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos along with John Doe Teams 1-29. He was fired by the Dolphins on Jan. 10, 2022 after a 24-25 record in three seasons as head coach.

–Field Level Media

Oct 30, 2022; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich talks on the field Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, before a game against the Washington Commanders at Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Mandatory Credit: Max Gersh/IndyStar-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers tab Frank Reich as head coach

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Frank Reich was named the new head coach of the Carolina Panthers on Thursday.

Reich becomes the sixth head coach in Panthers’ franchise history. He also served as the first starting quarterback for the franchise in 1995, and he tossed the first touchdown pass in team history.

Reich, 61, received a second interview with owner David Tepper and the team’s search committee this week.

He joins the Panthers after being fired by the Indianapolis Colts nine games into the 2022 season. He posted a 40-33-1 record in four-plus seasons in Indianapolis and guided the club to two postseason appearances.

Steve Wilks served as the interim coach of the Panthers after replacing Matt Rhule, who was fired Oct. 10 after a 1-4 start. Carolina finished with a 7-10 mark and has missed the playoffs in each of the five seasons since Tepper brought the franchise in 2018 for a then-NFL-record $2.275 billion.

Reich is viewed as an offensive-minded coach, which is in stark contract to the Panthers’ first four head coaches in franchise history.

Dom Capers, George Seifert, John Fox and Ron Rivera all rose through the ranks as defensive coordinators, while Rhule didn’t really hold a distinction as either an offensive or defensive coach. Wilks’ background also was on defense.

The Panthers’ passing offense ranked 29th in yards per game (176.2) this season. The team averaged just 20.4 points per contest, which ranked 20th in the league.

Reich will take hold of a team that is unsettled at best at quarterback. The Baker Mayfield experience was a bust, with the former No. 1 overall pick being released on Dec. 5.

Sam Darnold, who was taken two picks behind Mayfield in the 2018 NFL Draft, has thrown for just 16 touchdowns to go along with 16 interceptions in 18 games over two seasons with Carolina.

The Panthers may look to address the quarterback position in the NFL Draft. The team owns the No. 9 overall pick.

–Field Level Media

Dec 18, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers head coach Steve Wilks during warm ups at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers DT Derrick Brown: ‘We want Coach Wilks’

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Carolina Panthers interim coach Steve Wilks has the support of the locker room for the permanent job, defensive tackle Derrick Brown told NFL Network.

“I’ll speak for everybody in that locker room and say that we want coach Wilks to be our next head coach,” Brown said. “That’s for sure.”

Wilks replaced Matt Rhule, who was fired on Oct. 10 after a 1-4 start.

The Panthers have gone 5-5 since and are one game behind the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers with two games remaining.

Team owner David Tepper said earlier this season that Wilks could earn the position if he does an “incredible job.”

Making the playoffs is a reality if Carolina wins on Sunday at Tampa and on Jan. 8 at New Orleans.

Brown said Wilks has already done enough since being elevated from defensive passing game coordinator and secondary coach.

“I think every single week when we come in, he’s gonna tell you exactly how it is. He doesn’t sugarcoat nothing. He keeps it plain Jane, per se,” Brown said. “He lets you know exactly what’s going on. You can be one of the best players, but you walk into that building on Monday and he’ll tell you exactly how he felt about how you played. That level of clarity — that’s exactly what we want.”

Wilks, 53, went 3-13 in one season as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2018.

–Field Level Media

Oct 2, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive secondary coach Steve Wilks on the sidelines in the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Steve Wilks: My call to fire DC, special teams coach

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Carolina Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks said Tuesday that it was his decision to fire the team’s defensive coordinator and special teams coach in the wake of Matt Rhule’s termination on Monday.

Defensive coordinator Phil Snow and special teams coach Ed Foley were let go Monday, hours after the team parted ways with Rhule. Both assistant coaches are longtime Rhule disciples from his head coaching days at Temple and Baylor.

“Two great men, two great coaches,” Wilks said Tuesday. “It was my call, my decision. I just felt like I wanted a different approach moving forward, and that was all.”

Wilks installed Al Holcomb as the new DC, and he will call the defensive plays, Wilks said.

Wilks, 53, went 3-13 in one year as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2018. Prior to that, he spent six years as an assistant with the Panthers, and he was the Cleveland Browns’ defensive coordinator in 2019.

The Panthers fired Rhule, 47, on Monday after two-plus seasons and an 11-27 record. The Panthers are off to a 1-4 start this season after a 37-15 home loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

“I stand before you excited about this opportunity but also disappointed in how it came about,” Wilks began his first press briefing as interim coach. “Coach Rhule’s a great coach, a great man. … We didn’t do our job as coaches and players … to keep him around.”

The Panthers play at the Los Angeles Rams (2-3) this Sunday.

–Field Level Media