BREAKING: Steve Wilks Lands Defensive Coordinator Job
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The San Francisco 49ers are set to hire Steve Wilks as defensive coordinator, according to Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Wilks took over as the Carolina Panthers interim head coach in early October after the team fired Matt Rhule following a 1-4 start to the season. It took a couple of weeks, but Wilks rallied the troops and helped guide Carolina to a 6-6 record, finishing second in the NFC South division. Wilks, somehow had the Panthers playing for a division title heading into its Week 17 matchup with Tampa Bay - a game they jumped out to a 14-0 lead in and led for the majority of the afternoon.
Wilks was one of nine candidates to interview for the Panthers head coaching job, before the team ultimately decided to hire Frank Reich. According to Panthers GM Scott Fitterer, Wilks did have a "legitimate" chance at the job.
"He had a legitimate shot, definitely. Like, you have to give respect for what he did for this team during the year. He did a heck of a job leading us. He's a great man. But when it came down to it, I'm not going to compare Frank to Steve or anyone else. Frank during the interview process really separated himself. The first time he came in, he was dialed in, laid out his plan. Then when he came back the second time, he took that plan and went deeper to a different level. That's what separated him. All the respect in the world for Steve. He did a great job for us."
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