Steve Wilks has the opportunity to lead the Carolina Panthers to an NFC South title and a spot in the playoffs.
Considering how the season started for the team, that would be shocking. Yet it would be an even bigger testament to Wilks’ coaching talents.
On October 10th, the team fired head coach Matt Rhule after an embarrassing and listless 37-15 loss to the 49ers, which left them sitting at 1-4.
The reins were handed to defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. The same Steve Wilks hired and fired by the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 after a single season where he inherited a talent-deprived offense, a defense ravaged by poor roster decisions and rookie QB Josh Rosen, who wasn’t worthy of his first-round selection.
The situation exemplified the “clean up man” and “bridge coaching” dilemmas experienced by Black coaches where they want, and deserve, head coaching positions yet are oftentimes faced with taking one-and-done jobs.
But Wilks deserved better and almost everyone knew it.
So when the Panthers gave him the headset on October 10th, most feared he transitioned into the same position he once faced in Arizona.
The NFL hiring process for Black coaches is a scripted reality series that seldom surprises, so predicting another humiliating ending wouldn’t be far-fetched.
Carolina would suffer through a losing season, Wilks would be fired and a young, white offensive coordinator would step in after most of the suffering had been exerted. Then he would then have the opportunity to evaluate, draft and trade for real talent, management would extend their full support and the sun would shine in Carolina once again.
But Wilks faced even more challenges.
Quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield hampered the team with mediocre quarterback play. Add to that a grossly ignored DJ Moore and a wildly frustrated Robbie Anderson and Wilks’ tenure appeared to be limited.
The eventual trade of Christian McCaffrey, which signaled the team was in full rebuild mode, only strengthened that prediction.
Yet neither Wilks nor his team has fallen. Instead, they’re playing hard and are close to reaping rewards many thought impossible under Matt Rhule.
The Panthers are 5-5 since Steve Wilks took over. If they win at Tampa Bay and New Orleans, they will represent the NFC South in the playoffs.
Wilks reversed the fortunes of the team by turning to D’Onta Freeman, Chuba Hubbard, and the ground game. They’ve averaged 151.6 rushing yards per game over this span, including gashing the Lions for 320 yards this past weekend. They also set new franchise records for first half rushing yards (240) and total yards (364).
Wilks has proven that he can coach. He’s also proving that the Cardinals made a mistake by dismissing him so abruptly and unfairly.
It’s a fate shared by Brian Flores. Before having the opportunity to coach true talents like Kyler Murray, D’Andre Hopkins and Tyreek Hill, both men were fired.
That’s one of the reasons why Wilks joined Flores’ racial discrimination lawsuit against the league.
Their claims of racial bias continue to play out both in the court and on the field. The legal teams are fighting for disclosure while the recent hiring of Jeff Saturday as the Colts’ head coach further substantiated their accusations.
Now they can add the firing of Nathaniel Hackett to their lawsuit.
The Broncos are one of the teams that Flores is suing for conducting “sham interviews” with minority candidates, and Hackett’s horrendous performance gives credence to his claim.
Some of the “hot” coaching commodities like Hackett, Kliff Kingsbury and Josh McDaniel are ill-suited to be head coaches. Their teams have failed, are failing, or are in a state of disarray. Add Rhule and Urban Meyer to the list and you see a hiring pattern that blatantly favors a certain type while excluding Black coaches despite their accomplishments and qualifications.
Oh, and let’s not forget about the Dolphins hiring Mike McDaniel. Even with Miami’s newly formed high-powered offense and trade for Bradley Chubb, the team is only 8-7; last season under Flores, who lacked Tyreek Hill, Miami finished 9-8.
As I’ve said numerous times, this isn’t a personal attack on these coaches for their skin complexion.
Instead, this is to expose a system steeped in bias. One that continues to overlook or shun Black coaches and/or place them in undesirable positions despite their proven resumes.
It happened to Anthony Lynn, David Culley and Flores. And it happened to Steve Wilks in Arizona.
But with the job he’s done in Carolina, and the position he currently has them in, he deserves better.
He deserves the opportunity to use the four picks acquired in the McCaffrey trade and build a team.
He deserves to be the head coach of the Carolina Panthers.
So do right, Carolina.
