We mentioned last week that Steve Wilks was the Carolina Panthers coach most likely to be sought after as a head coach. You can imagine our surprise when our superlative analysis matched the very first rumor about 2018’s first opening with the New York Giants.
Two notes on the #Giants GM search: 1. They would've interviewed GM John Dorsey, which may be why the #Browns moved on him. 2. Keep an eye on #Panthers DC Steve Wilks as coach if Gettleman is hired by #NYG. https://t.co/g6pBFVmXB2
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 10, 2017
Given the NFL’s propensity for boneheaded decision making, we didn’t expect the match made in joke-here heaven to be made. Yet, with Gettleman likely returning to his natural habitat we are forced to consider Steve Wilks as an obvious favorite to land with his former General Manager. The pairing of Gettleman and Wilks, however, may not be as likely as we first thought.
Rivera reminds everyone that Steve Wilks is "very aggressive." @RapSheet reported yesterday that if Gettleman gets Giants GM job -- and he would be an excellent choice -- he will look hard at Wilks for HC coaching job. Panthers blitzed on almost every key passing down Sunday.
— Scott Fowler (@scott_fowler) December 11, 2017
Gettleman and Ron Rivera got on for many years because they were both old school, by-the-book football guys. I always got the feeling that Gettleman tolerated the Riverboat because it led to results, not because it was his - or even Ron’s - preferred philosophy. Scott Fowler points out that Wilks, on the other hand, is an aggressive play caller. He’s a gambler, if you will.
In spite of that difference, Wilks is still a clearly qualified candidate who is currently in charge of one of the best units in the entire National Football League. It would be silly for him to not at least get an interview for the job in New York, or anywhere else that opens up.
That’s not going to stop us from trying to pour as much water as we can, no matter how tenuous the justification, on all of the rumors and reasons connecting Wilks to head coaching vacancies. We here at Cat Scratch Reader are rooting for Wilks to succeed in his career at every possible turn, we just won’t see any reason why those turns can’t continue to be in Carolina.