FLOWERY BRANCH — Former Cardinals coach Steve Wilks, who was a visitor to the Falcons’ training camp last year, is set to interview with the team for the vacant defensive coordinator position next week, according to ESPN.
Wilks, who was the head coach at Savannah State in 1999, has been a long-time NFL coordinator, most recently with the San Francisco in 2023, when the 49ers reached the Super Bowl.
He did not coach in the league this season.
Wilks was a visitor at Falcons practice in late July.
“Really respect him,” Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said at the time. “We actually interviewed him (in January 2024 after coach Arthur Smith was fired). That’s exactly what that is. When you don’t have a job, you come and look at it from afar.”
Fontenot sensed Wilks wanted to join in the drills.
“I was teasing him during practice, it’s hard when you’re back there and you want to jump on the field and coach,” Fontenot said. “It was probably hard for him not getting his hands dirty. Just have a lot of respect for him. (Falcons coach) Raheem (Morris) is great about that, opening his door to coaches.
The Falcons fired first-year defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake after finishing this season 8-9 and not reaching the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season.
Wilks was interviewed for the Falcons’ head coaching job before Morris was hired. Wilks also interviewed that offseason with the Chargers, who hired Jim Harbaugh instead.
“I thought it went well,” Wilks told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution about his interview with the Falcons at the Super Bowl last season in Las Vegas. “Congratulations to Raheem. I think he’s going to do a tremendous job. I’ve got a lot of respect for him as a coach and even more as a person.”
Wilks, 55, made his reputation as the Panthers’ defensive coordinator under Ron Rivera. He started his coaching career at Johnson C. Smith (1995-96) and Savannah State (1997-99) after playing at Appalachian State.
He was the Cardinals’ head coach in 2018 and was the Panthers’ interim head coach in 2023 after Matt Rhule was fired.
Also related to the Falcons' staff, the Cleveland Browns hired Tommy Rees to be their offensive coordinator on Tuesday.
Falcons tight ends coach Kevin Koger, a native of Ohio, interviewed for the position.
Other candidates for Falcons defensive coordinator
Jeff Ulbrich
Ulbrich, who was the Jets’ defensive coordinator and interim head coach this season, played in NFL for the 49ers from 2000-09, was with the Falcons from 2015-20. He was the linebackers coach mostly and served as the defensive coordinator/linebackers coach in his final season.
He helped to call the defense for part of 2019 and in 2020.
Ulbrich’s first defense with the Jets finished 32nd in the NFL in points and yards allowed in 2021. The Jets jumped to fourth in yards and points in 2022. They finished 12th in points and third in yards in 2023 and ranked 20th in points and third in yards this season.
Marvin Lewis
Lewis, who most recently was assistant head coach with the Raiders this season, is available.
Lewis was the Ravens’ defensive coordinator from 1996-2001. He was the architect of the record-setting 2000 defense that featured linebacker Ray Lewis. He was assistant head coach in Washington on Steve Spurrier’s staff in 2002. He was the Bengals’ head coach from 2003-18.
Lewis was Associated Press coach of the year in 2009.
Wink Martindale
The Falcons had a virtual interview with Martindale on Tuesday.
Martindale was the Giants defensive coordinator from 2022-23. He most extensive work was with Ravens from 2012-21. He was the inside linebackers coach (2012-15), linebackers coach (2016-17) and defensive coordinator (2018-21) in Baltimore.
Martindale, 61, also was the defensive coordinator with the Broncos.
He saw stops at Notre Dame, the University of Cincinnati, Western Illinois and Western Kentucky before starting his NFL coaching career in 2004.
Martindale has coached players to 22 Pro Bowl selections and 10 All-Pro picks.
Lou Anarumo
The Falcons are set to interview Anarumo on Thursday. He helped the Bengals make back-to-back AFC title-game appearances in 2021 and 2022 while allowing 18.8 points per game in seven postseason matchups. He was lauded for being flexible and making halftime adjustments.
Anarumo would be reunited with Falcons safety Jessie Bates III, who started his career with the Bengals.
After Bates’ departure for the Falcons, the Bengals defense has fallen on hard times. The Bengals were ranked 25th in points allowed and yards allowed last season. In 2023, the Bengals were 21st in points allowed and 32 in yards allowed.
Leslie Frazier
Frazier was the Vikings’ head coach from 2011-13. He’s been a defensive coordinator with the Bengals (2003-04), Vikings (2007-10), Bucs (2014-15) and Buffalo (2017-22). He was Seattle’s assistant head coach this season.
Dennis Allen
Allen was the Raiders’ head coach from 2012-14, was with the Saints from 2006-10 and returned to the Saints from 2015-21 as the defensive coordinator.
About the Author
