How Al Holcomb factored into the Panthers’ re-hiring of interim head coach Steve Wilks
The Carolina Panthers were searching for a new voice in the secondary this offseason. Former passing game coordinator and secondary coach Jason Simmons had been poached by Josh McDaniels for a similar role with the Las Vegas Raiders, and then-head coach Matt Rhule needed someone to mentor the defensive backs.
So, then-defensive run game coordinator Al Holcomb approached Rhule with a recommendation that would eventually serve as the catalyst for a seismic shift at Bank of America Stadium.
Holcomb, who had worked with and under Steve Wilks in Carolina, Arizona and Cleveland, pitched the former head coach and defensive coordinator to Rhule, which ultimately led to the pair being reunited in Charlotte.
“Steve’s an outstanding defensive coach,” Holcomb said Thursday. “And when we had some turnover on the staff, I just approached Coach Rhule and just gave him a recommendation, basically. Obviously, thought very highly of Steve, knew he would do a fantastic job coaching the defensive backs and helping our defense and helping our team overall. Steve’s reputation speaks for itself. And when he came in, and Matt gave him the opportunity to come in and interview, he was impressive, and Matt saw the same things that I had known about Steve.”
Holcomb’s premonition about Wilks turned out to be true — to a point that most, including himself, probably didn’t expect.
Rhule was fired in October after the Panthers started the season 1-4. Wilks was immediately promoted to interim head coach, and he then promoted Holcomb, his longtime right-hand man, to defensive coordinator following the firing of Phil Snow.
During Wilks’ lone season as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2018, Holcomb served as his defensive coordinator, so it was a comfortable fit.
Since Wilks — who served as defensive backs coach and later defensive coordinator under Ron Rivera in Carolina — has taken charge of the team, and Holcomb has led the defense, the Panthers are 4-4, despite constant coaching staff shuffling and roster churning. The Panthers have overcome several injuries at quarterback and on defense, as well as the trade of superstar running back Christian McCaffrey.
The squad enters Sunday’s matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers on its first two-game winning streak of the season. Under Wilks, the Panthers are 3-0 at home.
A win against the Steelers would lead to a fifth victory for Wilks’ interim tenure, which would tie Rhule’s season totals for his first two years in charge.
It’s hard to imagine what the Panthers would look like these days if Holcomb hadn’t offered up the Wilks suggestion to Rhule in the offseason.
Holcomb helped the Panthers land Wilks, and in turn, eventually landed a major promotion.
The longtime partners oversee a defense that has held opponents to 15.5 points per game over the past four weeks, and the Panthers, at 5-8, are somehow still in the mix for the NFC South crown.
Wilks has already exceeded his win total in Arizona (3-13) and his push for the permanent head coach gig has started to gain obvious momentum. It’s been a redemption story for the Charlotte native, as he continues to will the Panthers in the right direction.
“Steve’s leadership, his overall message and his consistency with the team has been the key element,” Holcomb said. “He’s very well-liked throughout the organization, and in the locker room in particular, and the coaching staff. He’s detailed, organized, and really, not to get into what happened in the desert, but his philosophy and approach were exactly the same, and it just didn’t work out.”
This story was originally published December 16, 2022 at 11:03 AM.
