Well, at least the Carolina Panthers are treating this situation with some respect for everyone involved.
Thursday afternoon brought some disappointing news for Steve Wilks, as the franchise he revived from the depths of despair this past season dumped him. The Panthers, instead, hired Frank Reich as their new head coach—effectively ending Wilks’ hopes of becoming the full-time leader of his hometown team.
And according to Joe Person of The Athletic, Carolina also did not ask Wilks to stay on with the organization as part of Reich’s coaching staff. (Good move.)
Panthers thought it would be "weird" asking Steve Wilks about potentially taking a position on Frank Reich's staff and vice versa b/c both were interviewed as head-coaching candidates, per source.
— Joe Person (@josephperson) January 26, 2023
With the love, respect and support Wilks has received from Panthers players and fans, many had hoped the Charlotte native would somehow stick around had he not been offered the job—perhaps as a defensive coordinator. But, this isn’t a Tyronn Lue story.
Now, he could be in demand as a play caller elsewhere. The Atlanta Falcons, according to team reporter Sheena Quick, have been monitoring the situation and could be interested in hiring Wilks for their coordinator opening.
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