Cardinals Expected To Fire First-Year HC Steve Wilks

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Cardinals are not expected to retain HC Steve Wilks.

A source tells Schefter that he could not envision a scenario in which the Cardinals would bring back Wilks, despite hiring him back in January.

Cardinals veteran WR Larry Fitzgerald tells Ian Rapoport of NFL Media that the team wants to see Wilks return for the 2019 season.

“We all would want him back,” Fitzgerald said.

“I love Wilks,” Fitzgerald added. “Great dude. We all play hard for him. That’s the team — not me alone — speaking on it.”

The overall expectation has been that Wilks is likely to be out in Arizona after one season. However, Rapoport’s sources have insisted that no firm decision from owner Michael Bidwill has been communicated and that all options are on the table for the Cardinals at this point in time.

Should Wilks be retained, Rapoport adds that he would be required to make significant staff changes, which is something he would be willing to do. Rapoport notes that Wilks had a tough time hiring coaches last year, given that he was the last coach to land a job in the cycle.

Wilks, 49, began his NFL coaching career with the Bears as their defensive backs coach back in 2006. He spent two years with the Chargers before following Ron Rivera to Carolina as their defensive backs coach.

The Panthers promoted him to assistant head coach in 2015 and then to defensive coordinator last year after Sean McDermott took the Bills’ job.

Wilks agreed to become the Cardinals’ head coach last January.

During his first year as Cardinals’ head coach, Wilks has led the team to a 3-11 record.

We’ll have more regarding the Cardinals and Wilks as the news is available.