The Falcons are in the market for a new defensive coordinator after Dean Pees retired following the season’s end. The team has interviewed some of the hottest names on the market, Brian Flores and Vic Fangio, but it doesn’t feel likely either will land in Atlanta. The Falcons’ future defensive coordinator could come within the division, though. The club has interviewed Al Holcomb, Carolina’s former interim DC, and Ryan Nielsen, the co-DC in New Orleans. And you can add another one to that list — Steve Wilks.
Wilks has an incredible story. The Cardinals infamously fired him after just one year following the 2018 season with an absolutely terrible roster. It wasn’t fair, and he did admirably as the interim head coach in Carolina, going .500 over the final 12 games while dealing with tumultuous quarterback play.
The Falcons could use some life on the defensive side of the ball, and it seems Wilks gets the most out of his players. There’s a chance the Falcons will have to compete with the Panthers for Wilks’ services. It seems Carolina is keying in on Frank Reich to be the next head coach. Will he want to work for a team that passed him over? I don’t know, but I could get behind the Falcons poaching Steve Wilks from their division rivals.
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