Carolina Panthers Grant Steve Wilks 2nd Interview for Head Coach Vacancy

The Carolina Panthers are considering giving continuity a chance at head coach. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, the team will grant interim coach Steve Wilks a second interview for their head coaching vacancy.

The #Panthers have interviewed interim coach Steve Wilks a second time, per me and TomPelissero, as their HC search ramps up. Other second interviews are coming, as well.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 25, 2023

Wilks took over head coaching duties after the Panthers fired Matt Rhule following a 1-4 start to the season. Wilks led the team to a 6-6 finish and had a very real chance at an NFC South crown: had the Panthers defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17, they would have won the division.

Wilks has a long history with the Panthers working in his favor. Besides serving as interim head coach and defensive pass game coordinator this season, he worked with the team in various roles from 2012 to 2017, first as a defensive backs coach, then as an assistant head coach, before finally earning defensive coordinator duties.

Wilks also served one season as head coach with the Arizona Cardinals; he led the team to a middling 3-13 effort in 2018 before being let go. He latched on as defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns in 2019, leading the team to a 20th finish in points allowed.

Wilks has an abundance of experience in the NFL but lacks meaningful success. He did, however, turn around an ugly Panthers season and bring them their most respectable finish since the days of Cam Newton. If the front office believes they established something worth building on in 2022, giving Wilks another chance would make a lot of sense.