Steve Wilks is in his first season as the 49ers defensive coordinator. He joined the 49ers after spending the 2022 season with the Carolina Panthers as the defensive passing game coordinator/secondary coach and later as the team's interim head coach.
As Carolina's interim head coach, Wilks helped the 2022 Panthers improve to top-10 marks in rushing offense (146.8 yards per game) and rushing defense (116.3 yards per game) in the NFL. Following Wilks' promotion, the Panthers won six of their last 12 games, finishing in a tie for second place in the NFC South after the team started the season 1-4.
Wilks returned to the NFL ranks in 2022 after spending the previous season as the defensive coordinator at the University of Missouri. While at Missouri, Wilks coached CB Akayleb Evans, who became a fourth-round (118th overall) selection for the Minnesota Vikings in 2022, to the best season of his collegiate career as he registered 30 tackles, six passes defensed, one interception and two forced fumbles. Prior to his year with the Tigers, Wilks was the defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns in 2019. Under Wilks' leadership, the 2019 Browns improved from 25th to seventh in passing defense, allowing 216.9 passing yards per game, and finished tied for the eighth-most interceptions (14) in the NFL.
Wilks spent the 2018 season as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals where he helped lead a top-10 passing defense in the NFL. The Cardinals finished the 2018 season ranked fourth in passing defense, allowing 203.9 passing yards per game. Under Wilks, CB Patrick Peterson earned the eighth-consecutive Pro Bowl selection of his career and a Sporting News First-Team All-Pro selection as he registered 54 tackles, five passes defensed, two interceptions, 1.0 sack and one fumble recovery.
Before taking the helm in Arizona, Wilks spent six seasons (2012-17) in multiple defensive roles with the Carolina Panthers. From 2012-14, Wilks served as defensive backs coach and led a unit that ranked seventh in passing defense (221.7) and 15th in interceptions (45) during that span. Wilks' leadership helped multiple Panthers players experience some of the most successful years of their careers. In 2012, Wilks guided S Haruki Nakamura to career-highs in tackles (45), interceptions (two) and passes defensed (four). In 2013, Wilks helped S Mike Mitchell earn a career-high four interceptions while the Panthers finished the season ranked sixth in passing defense (214.3). In 2014, Wilks guided S Roman Harper to similar success, helping him register his career-high in interceptions (four).
Wilks added assistant head coach to his defensive backs coach title for the 2015-16 seasons. In 2015, Carolina made an appearance in Super Bowl 50 and led the NFL in interceptions (24), which tied their second-highest total in franchise history, and ranked sixth in scoring defense (19.3) and 11th in passing defense (234.5). Wilks coached CB Josh Norman to a career year as he earned his lone Pro Bowl selection and was named an Associated Press First-Team All-Pro after registering 56 tackles, 18 passes defensed, four interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Wilks also helped coach DT Kawann Short, who earned the first Pro Bowl selection of his career and was named an Associated Press Second-Team All-Pro after leading the team in sacks (11.0) and adding 55 tackles, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
The 2016 Panthers saw Wilks guide the team's secondary to finish the season tied for fourth in the NFL in interceptions (17). In 2017, Wilks was elevated to defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers. Under his guidance, the Panthers defense jumped from 21st to seventh in total defense (317.1), ranked third in rushing defense (88.1) and 10th in scoring defense (20.4). LB Luke Kuechly, who registered a team-high 125 tackles, 1.5 sacks, three interceptions, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and six passes defensed, was named an Associated Press First-Team All-Pro and earned his fifth-consecutive Pro Bowl selection.
Prior to his time in Carolina, Wilks spent three seasons (2009-11) coaching defensive backs for the San Diego Chargers. During that span, the Chargers ranked fourth in passing defense (203.8) and in total defense (315.1). The 2009 Chargers held its opponents to 209.3 passing yards per game, the 11th-best mark in the NFL, and featured the duo of CB Antonio Cromartie and CB Quentin Jammer, who combined for six interceptions and 21 passes defensed. In 2010, the Chargers led the NFL in both total defense (271.6) and passing defense (177.8). With Wilks leading the secondary, CB Antoine Cason set a career-high in interceptions (four) and tied his career-high in passes defensed (17). S Eric Weddle earned Associated Press All-Pro recognition in back-to-back years under Wilks, receiving a Second-Team selection in 2010, the first of his career, and a First-Team selection in 2011. Weddle was also selected to the first Pro Bowl of his career in 2011 after registering 84 tackles, a team-high seven interceptions and 11 passes defensed.
Prior to San Diego, Wilks was the defensive backs coach for the Chicago Bears for three seasons (2006-08). Wilks helped the 2006 Chicago Bears make an appearance in Super Bowl XLI with a defense that finished second in interceptions (24), ranked third in scoring defense (15.9), fifth in total defense (294.1) and 11th in passing defense (194.8) in the NFL. Under Wilks, CB Ricky Manning Jr. registered the most interceptions (five) and passes defensed (10) of his career in 2006, while CB Charles Tillman tied his career-high in interceptions (five) and tallied 14 passes defensed. Both players finished the 2006 season tied for the 10th-most interceptions in the NFL. In 2007, S Danieal Manning registered the second-most tackles of his career (79) and tied his career-high in interceptions (two). The 2008 Bears featured a secondary that finished the year tied for third in interceptions (22) and was led by S Kevin Payne who, under Wilks, registered career-highs in tackles (84), interceptions (four) and passes defensed (seven).
Before reaching the NFL ranks, Wilks spent 11 years at the collegiate level. He coached defensive backs at the University of Washington (2005), the University of Notre Dame (2004), Bowling Green State University (2003), Appalachian State University (2001) and Illinois State University (2000). He served as the defensive coordinator for three different schools: Division II Johnson C. Smith University (1995-96), Division II Savannah State University (1997-98) and East Tennessee State University (2002). Wilks also served one year as head coach at Savannah State University (1999).
A native of Charlotte, NC, Wilks attended Appalachian State University from 1987-91 where he earned his bachelor's degree in communications and played defensive back for four years. He helped the Mountaineers capture the Southern Conference Championship twice (1987 & 1991). He attended training camp with the Seattle Seahawks in 1992 and played defensive back and wide receiver for the Charlotte Rage of the Arena Football League in 1993. He and his wife, Marcia, have two daughters, Marissa and Melanni, and a son, Steven James.
