Ron Rivera is expected finalize deal to become the Washington Redskins head coach. Rivera may already have his defensive coordinator in place in Washington.
According to Micheal Phillips of The Richmond Times Dispatch, Rivera plans to bring former Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks as the Redskins defensive coordinator.
Wilks served under Rivera for six seasons with the Carolina Panthers. The first three seasons were as the team’s defensive backs coach. Assistant head coach was added to his tile in 2015 and he became the defensive coordinator in 2017 before landing the head coaching job with Arizona in 2018.
Wilks was fired after just one season with the Cardinals after the team finished with a 3-13 record. He spent 2019 as the Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator.
The Panthers defense was seventh in fewest yards allowed with Wilks as defensive coordinator.
Wilks also spent 2005 with the Redskins as the secondary coach under Joe Gibbs — his first NFL coaching position.
Wilks is an excellent coach for defensive backs. Redskins cornerback Josh Norman had his best seasons of his career with Wilks as his position coach. Norman became an All-Pro in 2015 as was regarded as the league’s best cornerback at the time.
Barring any setbacks in negotiations, Ron Rivera will be shaping up his coaching staff. And he could have the opportunity to gather some of his old staff from his Carolina days.
