The Washington Commanders just made a move to bolster their coaching staff, bringing in veteran defensive coach Steve Wilks to work with the club during the week. This isn’t just some standard hire, though. Wilks is in the building to help out with game planning, but on a unique, part-time schedule that’s got everyone talking.
The Game Plan Guru Is In, But Only Part-Time
Wilks, as reported by NFL Network, is now working with the Commanders’ coaches under head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Daronte Jones. His job? To help fine-tune game plans throughout the week. The really wild part, though, is his schedule. Nicki Jhabvala of TheAthletic.com spilled the details: Wilks rolls in on Sundays and dips out after practice on Wednesdays. That’s a super specific, limited engagement, right? What’s even crazier is this wasn’t some knee-jerk reaction to current team struggles. Nope, this move has apparently been in the works since *before* the season even started. He officially jumped into his role just last week.
Wilks’ Resume Speaks Volumes, Even on a Limited Schedule
Look, when you bring in a guy like Steve Wilks, you know you’re getting serious defensive coaching chops. Last season, he was the defensive coordinator for the Jets, though that gig wrapped up in December. Before that, though? Wilks was the 49ers defensive coordinator in 2023 when that team absolutely marched its way to the Super Bowl. Yeah, that’s not exactly small potatoes. The year before that, in 2022, he took over as the Panthers’ interim head coach after Matt Rhule got canned, and he actually led Carolina to a respectable 6-6 record. He even had a stint as the Cardinals’ head coach back in 2018. The dude’s got a long history as a pro and college coach, bringing a ton of experience to Dan Quinn’s staff, even if it’s just for part of the week.
So, what does this mean for Washington? They’re adding a proven defensive mind who’s been to the biggest game in football, and they’re doing it in a very specific, pre-meditated way. It’ll be fascinating to see how Wilks’ Sunday-to-Wednesday insights start showing up on the field on Sundays. Will this part-time guru make a full-time difference? We’re about to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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