Former Cardinals HC Steve Wilks Interviewed For North Carolina HC Job

Pete Nakos of On3Sports reports that former Cardinals HC Steve Wilks interviewed for the head coaching job at North Carolina. 

Mike Garafolo confirms the news and adds that the interview took place last week. 

Wilks is reportedly weighing his options in both the NFL and college before deciding what’s next for him. 

There has been increasing buzz about Bill Belichick getting the North Carolina job and it looks like the University is considering multiple options with NFL experience at this point. 

Wilks, 55, 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 after Sean McDermott took the Bills’ job. Wilks agreed to become the Cardinals’ head coach in 2018 but he was fired after one season.

Wilks took over as the Browns’ defensive coordinator in 2019. He was not retained in 2020 under a new staff, though he interviewed for the DC position. Wilks had a stint with Missouri as their defensive coordinator before returning to the NFL with the Panthers as their secondary coach.

However, he was promoted to interim head coach following the firing of Matt Rhule in 2022. The 49ers would later hire him as their defensive coordinator for the 2023 season before firing him this past February.  

In 2023, the 49ers defense ranked No. 2 in fewest yards allowed, No. 3 in fewest points allowed, No. 3 in fewest rushing yards allowed and No. 4 in fewest passing yards allowed.