Lawyers for Steve Wilks release statement after Frank Reich hiring

Steve Wilks. Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Lawyers for Steve Wilks release scathing statement in response to Panthers' hiring of Frank Reich

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 1/27/23

On Thursday, the Carolina Panthers hired Frank Reich as head coach, deciding not to keep Steve Wilks, who had held the position on an interim basis.

While the Panthers may have been preparing to move forward, they may not be able to just yet. Hours after the announcement of Reich's hiring, Wilks' attorneys, Douglas H. Wigdor and John Elefterakis, released a statement voicing shock over the Panthers' decision while threatening action against the team in the future.

We are shocked and disturbed that after the incredible job Coach Wilks did as the interim coach, including bringing the team back into Playoff contention and garnering the support of the players and fans, that he was passed over for the Head Coach position by David Tepper(1/2) https://t.co/sC865mOZAN
— WigdorLaw (@WigdorLaw) January 26, 2023

"We are shocked and disturbed that after the incredible job Coach Wilks did as the interim coach, including bringing the team back into Playoff contention and garnering the support of the players and fans, that he was passed over for the Head Coach position by David Tepper," the statement read. "There is a legitimate race problem in the NFL, and we can assure you that we will have more to say in the coming days."

The same firms represent Wilks as a co-defendant in former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores' suit against the NFL over racial discrimination. Flores filed a class-action lawsuit against the NFL and all 32 teams in February 2022, alleging race led to his firing and prevented him from landing other jobs within the league.

The Panthers named Wilks interim head coach ahead of Week 6 after firing Matt Rhule following a 1-4 start to the 2022 campaign. Carolina improved under Wilks, going 6-6 to finish the year 7-10.

Wilks was one of the last two names considered for the Panthers' job. However, despite having the backing of the locker room and putting a better product on the field, Carolina decided to walk away from Wilks in favor of Reich.

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