Steve Wilks

About

NFL football coach and former player who was hired as the Defensive Coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers in February 2023. He has coached a number of NFL teams, including the Arizona Cardinals, the Chicago Bears, and the Carolina Panthers. He was also a two-time NFC champion, leading the Bears to victory in 2006, and the Panthers in 2015.

Before Fame

From 1987 to 1991, he played defensive back at Appalachian State University. He went on to play one year in the Arena Football League for the Charlotte Rage.

Trivia

He was hired as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in January 2018, recording his first NFL victory as head coach in week 5 against the 49ers. He finished the 2018 season with the worst record for the Cardinals since 2000 and was let go in December of that year. During the 2022 NFL season, he was named interim head coach of the Panthers after they had fired Matt Rhule.

Family Life

He and his wife Marcia Wilks have two daughters and one son together.

Associated With

He coached Josh Rosen and Jermaine Gresham on the Arizona Cardinals.