Rapoport: Cardinals likely to interview Steve Wilks second time

Jan 11, 2018, 9:53 AM | Updated: 5:51 pm

This is a 2016 photo of Steve Wilks of the Carolina Panthers NFL football team. This image reflects the Carolina Panthers active roster as of Thursday, May 12, 2016 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

(AP Photo)

BY ARIZONA SPORTS

As NFL head coaching candidates work as assistants for playoff teams, others like Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks have more time to do a second round of interviews for the four remaining vacancies.

Wilks met with the Arizona Cardinals on Wednesday and has departed with the expectation he will interview with the Indianapolis Colts before the end of the week. But with time to spare, the Cardinals may have a chance to sit down with Wilks one more time.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports it’s likely that Arizona, Indianapolis and maybe even the New York Giants, who met with Wilks earlier this week, will meet with the 48-year-old at least once more.

Rapoport, however, reports now Wilks will not interview with the Colts.

Those teams have that chance because candidates currently employed by the New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles remain in the playoffs.

Seven of the nine coaches that Arizona has interviewed in its coaching search remain busy: Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak, Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo, Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, Pats linebackers coach Brian Flores and Atlanta Falcons special teams coach Keith Armstrong.

Arizona has made one round of interviews with all nine of their reported candidates, but Wilks and Cardinals defensive coordinator James Bettcher are the only two whose teams are not in the playoffs.

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Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks

The 48-year-old assistant head coach and defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers, right, has a specialty as a defensive backs coach having been one himself. Wilks has been a defensive backs coach in the NFL since 2006, having spent time with the Chicago Bears and San Diego Chargers. Prior, he coached various positions in college at Washington, Notre Dame, Bowling Green, East Tennessee State, Appalachian State, Illinois State and Savannah State. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)

Philadelphia Eagles QB coach John DeFilippo
DeFilippo, 39, has reportedly been on general manager Steve Keim’s radar for some time, according to Ian Rapoport. He has been the quarterbacks coach in Oakland working with Derek Carr before spending one year as the offensive coordinator of the Browns. His most recent work with Carson Wentz in Philadelphia has him as one of the hotter coaching names in the league.
(AP Photo/David Richard)

Atlanta Falcons special teams coach Keith Armstrong
The 54-year-old, left, is no stranger to interviews for head coaching jobs and will have his latest with the Cardinals. Armstrong has been a special teams coach in the NFL since 1997, spending four years with the Bears, seven with the Dolphins and the last 10 with the Falcons.
(AP photo/Bob Leverone)

New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, left, talks with coaching assistant Steve Belichick, right, during practice Friday, Jan. 30, 2015, in Tempe, Ariz. The Patriots play the Seattle Seahawks in NFL football Super Bowl XLIX Sunday, Feb. 1. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

New England Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores
The third name in New England being linked to open head coaching positions, Flores, right, has been with the Patriots since 2004. Working all the way up like Patricia from a scouting assistant at the age of 23 to the safeties coach in 2012, Flores spent four seasons with the safeties before coaching the linebackers for the past two seasons.
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator James Bettcher
To no surprise, the Cardinals have Bettcher as an in-house candidate, according to Rapoport. The 39-year-old started in the NFL with the Colts in 2012 as the outside linebackers coach. He came with Arians to Arizona in 2013, serving as outside linebackers coach for two years before being promoted to DC in 2015. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz speaks with members of the media during a news conference at the team's NFL football training facility in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

In this July 27, 2017, file photo, Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, left, and head coach Mike Zimmer watch practice during NFL football training camp in Mankato, Minn. The Vikings have managed to withstand the loss of their starting quarterback and running back in the first quarter of the season with a balanced attack, quality depth and a vastly improved offensive line. Coordinator Pat Shurmur has quietly done a masterful job of keeping the offense running. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King, File)

Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Munchak answers a question during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

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