The San Francisco 49ers are one step closer to taking another beloved member of the Carolina Panthers family.
As first reported by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the NFC West champions will interview former Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks for their defensive coordinator vacancy. The highly desirable job was left open by DeMeco Ryans, who has just been hired as the new head coach of the Houston Texans.
Former #Panthers interim coach Steve Wilks will interview on Monday for the #49ers DC job vacated by DeMeco Ryans, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 3, 2023
After a heralded first run in Carolina as a defensive backs coach, defensive coordinator and assistant head coach from 2012 to 2017, Wilks made a return to his hometown in 2022—when then-head coach Matt Rhule brought him onboard to head the secondary. He’d then, of course, take over as the team’s interim head coach five weeks into the campaign.
From there, the Charlotte native rattled off six wins over 12 games to resurrect the seemingly dead Panthers right into playoff contention. He would, though, be passed over for the permanent job in favor of Frank Reich.
