As expected, Atlanta will check in with the experienced defensive coordinator and former head coach.
Steve Wilks was an obvious name to link to the Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator opening. He’s an experienced coordinator who has served as both a full-time head coach and interim head coach, and he spent significant time this summer at Falcons’ training camp sessions and practices. While that didn’t lead to a job in that timespan, it might for 2025.
Wilks faced Morris and the Falcons often during his time with the Panthers from 2015-2017, where he served in roles ranging from defensive backs coach to defensive coordinator. Wilks then served as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals for one disastrous, poorly quarterbacked year before stopping in as a defensive coordinator in Cleveland, with Missouri, and then Carolina again. It was that last stop where he took over as the interim head coach and got .500 ball out of a terrible Panthers team, including an ugly but scrappy win and near-win against the Falcons in 2022. After a single year as the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator, where that team took a small step back from DeMeco Ryans, fired Wilks, and then took a huge step back in 2024, Wilks volunteered with the Charlotte 49ers college football team this past season.
Wilks has extensive experience as a defensive cordinator, in other words, and has proven to be a tough and capable coach in a variety of roles. His work with the Panthers during the 2017 season and his fine work with the 49ers last year are examples of what he’s capable of doing when the talent is there for him to work with; a Falcons defense that doesn’t majorly upgrade the talent will still be improved with Wilks because he’s simply a better, more seasoned coach than Jimmy Lake. I’m not expecting him to work miracles—he hasn’t in the past with decimated defenses—but in terms of competence and discipline Wilks should be a good hire.
We’ll see if Wilks is the choice as the Falcons continue to work through their list, but he’s definitely a choice I’d feel comfortable with.