Steve Wilks

Steve Wilks

Wilks in 2024
New York Jets
Position:	Defensive coordinator
Personal information
Born:	(1969-08-08) August 8, 1969 (age 55) Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
Career information
High school:	West Charlotte
College:	Appalachian State (1987–1991)
Career history
As a player:
Charlotte Rage (1993)
As a coach:
Johnson C. Smith (1995–1996) Defensive coordinator Savannah State (1997–1998) Defensive coordinator Savannah State (1999) Head coach Illinois State (2000) Defensive backs coach Appalachian State (2001) Defensive backs coach East Tennessee State (2002) Defensive coordinator Bowling Green (2003) Defensive backs coach Notre Dame (2004) Defensive backs coach Washington (2005) Secondary coach Chicago Bears (2006–2008) Defensive backs coach San Diego Chargers (2009–2011) Defensive backs coach Carolina Panthers (2012–2014) Defensive backs coach Carolina Panthers (2015–2016) Assistant head coach & defensive backs coach Carolina Panthers (2017) Assistant head coach & defensive coordinator Arizona Cardinals (2018) Head coach Cleveland Browns (2019) Defensive coordinator Missouri (2021) Defensive coordinator Carolina Panthers (2022) Defensive passing game coordinator & secondary coach Carolina Panthers (2022) Interim head coach San Francisco 49ers (2023) Defensive coordinator Charlotte (2024) Volunteer advisor New York Jets (2025–present) Defensive coordinator
Head coaching record
Regular season:	NCAA: 5–6 (.455) NFL: 9–19 (.321)
Coaching record at Pro Football Reference

Steven Bernard Wilks (born August 8, 1969) is an American football coach who is the defensive coordinator for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). A defensive assistant for most of his career, he was the assistant head coach and defensive backs coach for the Carolina Panthers when they reached Super Bowl 50 and the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers when they reached Super Bowl LVIII. Wilks was also the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 and the interim head coach of the Panthers in 2022.