Cards Hire Steve Wicks As New Head Coach Replacing Arians

TEMPE, AZ – Fan of the Cardinals? A member of the Bird Gang? Well, take a look at the picture above. That's your new coach signing his new contract. The Arizona Cardinals announced on Monday that they've hired Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks to replace Bruce Arians as head coach.

Wilks signed a four-year deal with an option for a fifth year.

In an interesting twist, it's the second straight time that the team has hired a head coach someone who has helped make the team miserable in the past.

Arians was with the Steelers as their offensive coordinator when they defeated the Cardinals in the Super Bowl. Wilks was the Panthers assistant head coach when they downed the Cards two years ago in the NFC Championship Game.

Wilks, 48, will be formally introduced by the team at a Tuesday news conference.

“This is not really a rebuild, this is a retool,” Wilks told azcardinals.com. “We have the culture of winning here. We just have to be able to sustain it. It’s all about trying to get to the next level and the consistency you need to get to the next level.

“I understand it’s a privilege. I’m humbled and honored to be the head coach.”

This will be his first stint as a head coach at the pro level.

Wilks spent one year as head coach at Savannah State in 1999.

He joined the Chicago Bears as defensive backs coach in 2006 and then held the same job with the San Diego Chargers and the Panthers.

Wilks joined Carolina in 2012, became their assistant head coach in 2014, and then defensive coordinator last year. He kept his assistant head coach title. He coached in the Super Bowl with both the Bears and Panthers.

“In our research, they talked about what a passionate coach (Wilks) is on the field and what a terrific leader he is,” team president Michael Bidwill said. “Players love playing for him.”

Photo courtesy Arizona Cardinals.