Arizona Cardinals found themselves in a tough spot after both head coach Bruce Arians and quarterback Carson Palmer decided to retire at the end of 2017 NFL season. Now, the team has taken care one of those problems by naming Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks as their next head coach. The Cardinals announced that Wilks received a four-year deal, with a team option for the fifth year.
After his hiring was made official, Wilks said that he intends to continue the team’s winning culture.
“This is not really a rebuild, this is a retool,” – Wilks told azcardinals.com. “We have the culture of winning here. We just have to be able to sustain it. It’s all about trying to get to the next level and the consistency you need to get to the next level. I believe building a culture based on three things: Trust, commitment, and accountability.“
With Steve Wilks out of the door, the Carolina Panthers have now lost their defensive coordinator second time in two years. In 2016 offseason, Sean McDermott, whose job Wilks took, was named Buffalo Bills head coach and led them to a playoff appearance in his first season. The Panthers will also lose linebackers coach Al Holcomb, who will follow Wilks to the Cardinals and assume the role of defensive coordinator. The Panthers, on the other hand, will have defensive line coach Eric Washington replace Wilks as DC.
Steve Wilks, who works in NFL since 2006, has spent the last six years as a part of Panthers’ organization. He first served as defensive backs coach, before taking the role of assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. Wilks orchestrated the Panthers defense that finished third in sacks (50) and third in run defense (88.1 yards per game). The Panthers were the only team in 2017 NFL season that didn’t allow a single 100-yards rushing game and also had a second-highest blitz rate in the NFL.
