The Arizona Cardinals will reportedly hire Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks to be their next head coach, replacing the recently retired Bruce Arians.
It’s a move that has seemingly been in the works for a while. And to say Wilks is qualified would be an understatement. He has served with Panthers head coach Ron Rivera each of the past six seasons, taking on the role of defensive coordinator this past season. Prior to that, Wilks was an assistant coach for the Chicago Bears and then San Diego Chargers.
All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson seems to be extremely happy about the reported hiring, as he noted on Twitter Monday morning.
I LOVE IT.
— Patrick Peterson /P2 (@P2) January 22, 2018
Wilks’ past experience includes stints as a defensive backs coach both in college and at the NFL level. One of the top defensive backs in the game, it’s not a surprise that Peterson would be excited about the hiring.
For the first time in his career, Peterson will now have a defensive-minded head coach calling the shots on the sideline. That has to be music to the ears of what is an already talented Cardinals defense, led by Mr. Peterson himself.