During Ron Rivera’s tenure, the Carolina Panthers have seen more than their fair share of coordinators get poached for head coaching positions on other teams. The latest promotion comes in the form of defensive coordinator Steve Wilks being named the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals earlier today.
Welcome to Arizona, Coach Wilks!
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) January 22, 2018
MORE: https://t.co/Gc6rffTPVv
#BeRedSeeRed pic.twitter.com/hQh30slJ5F
Following what they have done in the past, our newest defensive coordinator takes over the same way Wilks did, by being promoted from a positional coaching role. Eric Washington, who has been the defensive line coach in Carolina since 2011, has seized control of the position, as of about an hour ago.
New DC in the https://t.co/qHAvqviPmv
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) January 22, 2018
Washington has presided over a very successful defensive front four for most of his tenure here, especially after the drafting of defensive tackles Kawann Short and Star Lotulelei back to back in the first year of Dave Gettleman’s tenure as general manager. Carolina has been at or near the top of the league in sacks and run defense since then, and he will look to continue to bring that aggressive spirit with him into his new coordinator role. With several uncertainties looming such as whether Julius Peppers will play another season, the final year of Thomas Davis, and Star Lotulelei not currently under contract for next year, he’ll need to be ready for anything.