Wilks is a three-time NFC champion, winning with the Bears in 2006, the Panthers in 2015 and the 49ers in 2023, losing the Super Bowl on all three occasions.
Wilks served as the head coach at Savannah State College for one season (1999) and compiled a record of 5–6.[3] He coached college-level football until 2005.
Chicago Bears
On February 16, 2006, Wilks was hired by the Chicago Bears as defensive backs coach.[1] On December 30, 2008, the Bears announced that they had fired Wilks.[4]
San Diego Chargers
Wilks was hired as defensive backs coach of the San Diego Chargers in 2009. He worked under former Bears defensive coordinator and then-Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, with Rivera promoted from defensive backs coach.[5]
Carolina Panthers (first stint)
When Rivera became head coach of the Panthers, he hired Wilks as secondary coach on January 15, 2012. He was promoted to assistant head coach in 2015.[6] He was Pro Football Focus' second runner up to their Secondary Coach of the Year award.[7]
In the 2015 season, Wilks and the Panthers finished 15–1 and reached Super Bowl 50 on February 7, 2016. The Panthers fell to the Denver Broncos by a score of 24–10.[8]
After defensive coordinator Sean McDermott left to become head coach of the Buffalo Bills, Wilks was promoted to McDermott's former position.[9]
After the 2017 season, Wilks was an extremely hot commodity for teams in need of new head coaches. According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, teams were impressed by Wilks' interview with the Los Angeles Rams in the previous offseason before they eventually hired Sean McVay. Wilks also interviewed with the New York Giants, who had hired David Gettleman as general manager.[10] Gettleman previously served as general manager for the Panthers.
Arizona Cardinals
On January 22, 2018, Wilks was hired as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, replacing Bruce Arians.[11] In the 2018 season opener against the Washington Redskins, Wilks made his head coaching debut with a 24–6 loss.[12] In Week 5, against the San Francisco 49ers, he recorded his first NFL victory as a head coach.[13] He finished coaching the season with a league-worst 3–13 record, the worst record for the Cardinals since 2000.[14] On December 31, 2018, the Cardinals fired Wilks.[15]
On January 21, 2021, after 13 seasons with the NFL, Wilks returned to college football. He was hired by the University of Missouri as their defensive coordinator under head coach Eliah Drinkwitz.[17]
Carolina Panthers (second stint)
On February 9, 2022, Wilks returned to the NFL and to the Carolina Panthers, who announced the hiring of Wilks as Matt Rhule's new defensive pass game coordinator and secondary coach.[18] On October 10, 2022, after Rhule was fired, Wilks was named the Panthers' interim head coach for the remainder of the season.[19] Wilks led Carolina to a 6–6 record over the season's remaining 12 weeks, but was passed over for the permanent head coaching position in favor of Frank Reich.
San Francisco 49ers
On February 9, 2023, it was reported that the San Francisco 49ers hired Wilks as their defensive coordinator.[20] During the 2023 NFL Combine, 49ers' general manager John Lynch confirmed that Wilks was hired as their defensive coordinator.[21] On February 14, 2024, he was fired following their loss in Super Bowl LVIII, following a season of inconsistency on defense.[22]
^Callihan, Schuyler (October 10, 2022). "BREAKING: Panthers Fire Matt Rhule". Sports Illustrated Carolina Panthers News, Analysis and More. Retrieved September 20, 2024.