Carolina Panthers head coach Steve Wilks Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Former Panthers safety believes Steve Wilks has done enough to shed interim tag

It's still unclear what direction the Carolina Panthers will go in with the head coaching position after firing Matt Rhule back in October. However, seven weeks into his interim gig, Steve Wilks has already gained the support of former safety Tre Boston. 

The Panthers have had mixed results since Wilks took over, going 3-4. However, Boston believes Wilks has earned a shot without the interim title by seeing how the team has improved under his watch. 

"To see the guys playing the way they are, man," Boston said. "You can always tell a team by the fight they have for their coach."

Boston is familiar with how Wilks coaches, having played four of his seven NFL seasons under him, both in Carolina and with the Arizona Cardinals. He called Wilks an "amazing leader" and a "man of integrity" who sets the right example for his players, making him a perfect fit for where the Panthers are now. 

"You have to be a team, and that's what Steve Wilks brings," Boston said. "He's a guy who knows how to rally the troops." 

While Boston made a point to talk about the fight the Panthers have shown with Wilks at the helm, he stopped short of saying the team quit on its former head coach. Boston's final season in the league was Rhule's first, so he has a unique perspective on what transpired during the 2020 season. 

"My year was a little tough for him. It was his first year in the NFL, learning how to work with a lot of older gentlemen," Boston said. "It's a different ballgame, coaches know that."

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Fury-Usyk epic increases excitement for potential rematch
Knicks could get major boost for Game 7 showdown with Pacers
WNBA to investigate $100,000 sponsorship deals for Aces players
Tiger Woods blames one big factor for missing the cut at PGA Championship
Giants All-Star pitcher suffers setback in recovery from injury
Watch: Juan Soto's first multi-homer game as a Yankee
'Ain't good enough': Draymond Green claims Celtics must 'win it all' or it's a 'failure'
Blue Jays GM wants struggling club to feel 'massive sense of urgency'
Raptors expected to flip former NBA champion during the offseason
MLB insider reveals Mets' massive extension offer that Pete Alonso turned down
Celtics legend provides update after gruesome finger injury
Bulls hire former NBA head coach as top assistant
Chiefs move on from young running back
20-year MLB veteran working out, unsure about playing future
USA Hockey names HC for 2025 4 Nations Face-Off and 2026 Olympics
Key Knicks forward ruled out for Game 7 vs. Pacers
Pacers' Pascal Siakam leads team to Game 6 win vs. Knicks
Watch: Matt Duchene's 2OT winner sends Stars to conference final
Scottie Scheffler shoots improbable 66 after warming up for PGA Championship in a jail cell
Report: Tua Tagovailoa away from Dolphins amid contract chatter

Want more Panthers news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.