Steven Bernard Wilks (born August 8, 1969) is an American football coach in the National Football League (NFL). A defensive assistant for most of his career, he was the assistant head coach and defensive backs coach for the Carolina Panthers when they reached Super Bowl 50 and the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers when they reached Super Bowl LVIII. Wilks was also the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 and the interim head coach of the Panthers in 2022.
.jpg) Wilks with the 49ers in 2024 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born: | August 8, 1969 Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| High school: | West Charlotte (NC) |
| College: | Appalachian State |
| Position: | Defensive coordinator |
| Career history | |
| As a player: | |
| As a coach: | |
| |
| Head coaching record | |
| Regular season: | NCAA: 5–6 (.455) NFL: 9–19 (.321) |
| Record at Pro Football Reference | |
Early life and playing career
editWilks was born in Charlotte and attended West Charlotte High School.[1] He played defensive back from 1987 to 1991 at Appalachian State.[2]
Wilks played one year (1993) in the Arena Football League for the Charlotte Rage as a wide receiver, defensive back, and kick returner.[3]
Coaching career
editCollege
editWilks served as the head coach at Savannah State College for one season (1999) and compiled a record of 5–6.[4] He coached college-level football until 2005.
Chicago Bears
editOn February 16, 2006, Wilks was hired by the Chicago Bears as defensive backs coach.[2] On December 30, 2008, the Bears announced that they had fired Wilks.[5]
San Diego Chargers
editWilks was hired as defensive backs coach of the San Diego Chargers in 2009. He worked under former Bears defensive coordinator and then-Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, with Rivera promoted from defensive backs coach.[6]
Carolina Panthers (first stint)
editWhen Rivera became head coach of the Panthers, he hired Wilks as secondary coach on January 15, 2012. He was promoted to assistant head coach in 2015.[7] He was Pro Football Focus' second runner up to their Secondary Coach of the Year award.[8]
In the 2015 season, Wilks and the Panthers finished 15–1 and reached Super Bowl 50 on February 7, 2016. The Panthers fell to the Denver Broncos by a score of 24–10.[9]
After defensive coordinator Sean McDermott left to become head coach of the Buffalo Bills, Wilks was promoted to McDermott's former position.[10]
After the 2017 season, Wilks was an extremely hot commodity for teams in need of new head coaches. According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, teams were impressed by Wilks' interview with the Los Angeles Rams in the previous offseason before they eventually hired Sean McVay. Wilks also interviewed with the New York Giants, who had hired David Gettleman as general manager.[11] Gettleman previously served as general manager for the Panthers.
Arizona Cardinals
editOn January 22, 2018, Wilks was hired as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, replacing Bruce Arians.[12] In the 2018 season opener against the Washington Redskins, Wilks made his head coaching debut with a 24–6 loss.[13] In Week 5, against the San Francisco 49ers, he recorded his first NFL victory as a head coach.[14] He finished coaching the season with a league-worst 3–13 record, the worst record for the Cardinals since 2000.[15] On December 31, 2018, the Cardinals fired Wilks.[16]
Cleveland Browns
editOn January 14, 2019, Wilks was hired by the Cleveland Browns to be their defensive coordinator under head coach Freddie Kitchens.[17] He was not retained for the 2020 season under new head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Missouri
editOn January 21, 2021, after 13 seasons with the NFL, Wilks returned to college football. He was hired by the University of Missouri as their defensive coordinator under head coach Eliah Drinkwitz.[18]
Carolina Panthers (second stint)
editOn February 9, 2022, Wilks returned to the NFL and to the Carolina Panthers, who announced the hiring of Wilks as Matt Rhule's new defensive pass game coordinator and secondary coach.[19] On October 10, 2022, after Rhule was fired, Wilks was named the Panthers' interim head coach for the remainder of the season.[20] Wilks led Carolina to a 6–6 record over the season's remaining 12 weeks, but was passed over for the permanent head coaching position in favor of Frank Reich.
San Francisco 49ers
editOn February 9, 2023, it was reported that the San Francisco 49ers hired Wilks as their defensive coordinator.[21] During the 2023 NFL Combine, 49ers' general manager John Lynch confirmed that Wilks was hired as their defensive coordinator.[22] On February 14, 2024, he was fired following their loss in Super Bowl LVIII, following a season of inconsistency on defense.[23]
In August 2024, Wilks became a volunteer advisor for the Charlotte 49ers football team.[24]
Head coaching record
editCollege
edit| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah State Tigers (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1999) | |||||||||
| 1999 | Savannah State | 5–6 | 3–4 | ||||||
| Savannah State: | 5–6 | 3–4 | |||||||
| Total: | 5–6 | ||||||||
NFL
edit| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| ARI | 2018 | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 4th in NFC West | – | – | – | – |
| ARI total | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | – | – | – | – | – | |
| CAR* | 2022 | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | 2nd in NFC South | – | – | – | – |
| CAR total | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | – | – | – | – | – | |
| Total | 9 | 19 | 0 | .321 | 0 | 0 | .000 | |||
* – Interim head coach
Personal life
editWilks is a Christian.[25] He is married to Marcia Wilks. They have two daughters and one son.[26]
References
edit- ^ Stone, Augusta (October 11, 2022). "Five things to know about Steve Wilks". Carolina Panthers. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
- ^ a b "Chicago Bears". Archived from the original on February 14, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2007.
- ^ "Steve Wilks". ArenaFan.com. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
- ^ "Steve Wilks Records by Year". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on January 1, 2019. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
- ^ Biggs, Brad (December 30, 2008). "Bears make coaching move". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on January 1, 2009.
- ^ Cox, Seth (January 22, 2018). "Steve Wilks will bring a different, yet more aggressive defensive style to the desert". Revenge of the Birds. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
- ^ Urban, Darren (January 23, 2018). "Steve Wilks: "You Guys Made The Right Decision"". Arizona Cardinals. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
- ^ "PFF News & Analysis | PFF".
- ^ "Super Bowl 50 - Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers - February 7th, 2016". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ^ "Sean McDermott hired as Buffalo Bills' new head coach". NFL.com. January 11, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
- ^ "Giants interview Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks". Giants.com. January 9, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
- ^ Urban, Darren (January 22, 2018). "Steve Wilks Named New Cardinals Head Coach". Arizona Cardinals. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
- ^ Marshall, John (September 10, 2018). "Cardinals routed 24-6 by Redskins in Wilks' debut". AP News. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
- ^ Urban, Darren (October 8, 2018). "There's One: Cardinals Get Just Enough In Win Over 49ers". Arizona Cardinals. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
- ^ "Chicago/St. Louis/Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals Team Encyclopedia". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
- ^ Patra, Kevin (December 31, 2018). "Steve Wilks fired by Cardinals after one year with team". NFL.com. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
- ^ "Browns add Todd Monken and Steve Wilks as coordinators". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
- ^ Rittenberg, Adam (January 21, 2021). "Source: Mizzou hires ex-NFL coach Wilks as DC". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
- ^ Gantt, Darin (February 9, 2022). "Panthers bring back Steve Wilks". Panthers.com. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
- ^ Callihan, Schuyler (October 10, 2022). "BREAKING: Panthers Fire Matt Rhule". Sports Illustrated Carolina Panthers News, Analysis and More. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
- ^ Edholm, Eric (February 7, 2023). "49ers hire former Panthers interim coach Steve Wilks as new defensive coordinator". NFL.com. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
- ^ "49ers Hire Defensive Coordinator, Announce Other Coaching Staff Hires". 49ers.com. March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- ^ Inman, Cam (February 14, 2024). "49ers fire defensive coordinator Steve Wilks in aftermath of Super Bowl LVIII loss". The Mercury News. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/college/charlotte-49ers/article290692779.html
- ^ Mercer, Kevin (November 16, 2022). "Charlotte native Steve Wilks thankful to God to be Panthers interim head coach". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
- ^ "Steve Wilks". Retrieved November 18, 2022.