Wilks 'disappointed, not defeated' over Panthers snub
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — (AP) — Former Carolina Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks is “disappointed, but not defeated” that he didn’t landed the team’s full-time head coaching position. The Panthers announced on Thursday they've agreed to hire Frank Reich as their new head coach. Wilks thanked players, coaches, and staff for their dedication, saying that he took pride in representing his hometown of Charlotte. The Panthers interviewed Wilks, who is Black, twice for the position before settling on Reich, who is white. Nearly a year ago, Wilks joined Brian Flores' lawsuit in an effort to bring attention to the lack of Black head coaches in the NFL.
wftv.comAFC & NFC Championship preview + Panthers hire Frank Reich & Jets hire Nathaniel Hackett
The Panthers announced the hiring of former Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich. The Jets hired former Denver Broncos head coach and Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett as their new OC. This is huge news for the Cowboys, who manage to hang onto Quinn through yet another head coach hiring cycle. Charles McDonald believes Hurts may be able to throw it deep against San Francisco – the cornerbacks may be their one weakness. 00:25 - The Panthers hire Frank Reich to be their next head coach13:55 - The Jets hire Nathaniel Hackett to be their next offensive coordinator.
wftv.comCarolina Panthers hire Frank Reich as new head coach
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — (AP) — The Carolina Panthers agreed to terms with Frank Reich to become their new head coach on Thursday. Reich becomes the first Panthers head coach to come from an offensive background. Reich becomes the sixth full-time head coach of the Panthers, following Dom Capers, George Seifert, John Fox, Ron Rivera and Matt Rhule. Among the others who interviewed included former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, former Detroit Lions and Colts head coach Jim Caldwell, Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and four NFL offensive coordinators — Kellen Moore (Cowboys), Shane Steichen (Eagles), Mike Kafka (Giants) and Ken Dorsey (Bills). Among the candidates the Panthers have already interviewed for that position is Vic Fangio, the former head coach of the Denver Broncos.
wftv.comPanthers players show support for interim coach Steve Wilks getting the permanent job
Steve Wilks isn't a hot name. But Wilks has done a good job considering the circumstances and Panthers players seem to want him to keep the job on a permanent basis. Panthers QB Sam Darnold said Steve Wilks has done a great job with communicating with players, and is very much in support of his return next season. The last time he was looking for a head coach he shocked the NFL by signing Rhule to a seven-year, $62 million deal. The Panthers players have spoken.
wftv.comJim Harbaugh reportedly talks to Panthers owner David Tepper about HC job
And for a second straight year, the coach is reportedly following up that success by flirting with a return to the NFL. Harbaugh has spoken with Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper about potentially filling the team's vacant head coach position, according to the Associated Press and ESPN. The Panthers are searching for a new head coach after firing Matt Rhule, the former Baylor coach who has since taken the Nebraska job. After the season, Harbaugh interviewed for the Minnesota Vikings head coaching job, but ended up returning to Michigan while Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell took the position. He has already denied having interest in an NFL job in early December, but tellingly added "no man knows the future."
wftv.comAP source: Panthers owner talks to Harbaugh about HC job
The Panthers’ head coaching search is expected to begin in earnest in the coming weeks. Steve Wilks has been serving as interim head coach after Matt Rhule was fired in the middle of his third season as head coach. The 59-year-old Harbaugh has spent the past eight seasons coaching the Wolverines, compiling a 74-25 record. Harbaugh also spent four seasons as head coach of Stanford and three more at San Diego. He was the AP NFL Coach of the Year in 2011 and AP College Coach of the Year in 2021.
wftv.comPanthers bring back former All-Pro CB Josh Norman to replaced injured Jaycee Horn
With Jaycee Horn sidelined with an injured wrist, the Carolina Panthers are looking to a familiar face at cornerback. The Panthers announced on Monday that they're signing Josh Norman, who emerged as an All-Pro in Carolina in 2015 as one of the game's most notable cornerbacks. Norman, 35, never replicated his All-Pro form from 2015, but remained a starter for the better part of six seasons since. He has not played in 2022 after starting 14 games for the San Francisco 49ers last season. Interim head coach Steve Wilks was the defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator for the Panthers during Norman's initial tenure with the team.
wftv.comPanthers will start Mayfield at QB with Walker injured
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — (AP) — Baker Mayfield will start at quarterback for the Carolina Panthers on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens after P.J. Walker was injured in Thursday night’s 25-15 victory against the Atlanta Falcons but coach Steve Wilks said Walker toughed it out and continued to play. Wilks said there are no plans to put Walker on injured reserve. Mayfield started the first five games with the Panthers and struggled, going 1-4 with four touchdowns and four interceptions and a 71.9 quarterback rating. He relieved Walker two weeks ago at Cincinnati with the Panthers trailing 35-0 at halftime and threw for 155 yards and two touchdowns.
wftv.comQB Baker Mayfield to start for Panthers in Week 11, P.J. Walker out with high ankle sprain
Head coach Steve Wilks announced on Monday that P.J. Walker has a high ankle sprain, so Baker Mayfield will start on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. Walker dealing with a high ankle sprain, Panthers’ HC Steve Wilks told reporters that Baker Mayfield will start Sunday vs. Baltimore. Despite that, Walker started in Week 10, an ugly Thursday night win against the Atlanta Falcons. Now with Walker injured, they essentially have no choice but to start Mayfield.
wftv.comBaker Mayfield back to bench with P.J. Walker named Panthers starter vs. Falcons
Walker will start at quarterback for the Carolina Panthers against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 10. Wilks declined to address what went into his decision other than to note that the Panthers are on a short week. Carolina plays Atlanta on Thursday, and Walker has been the team's starter since Week 6. Mayfield, who began the season as Carolina's starter, took over with Carolina trailing 35-0 in the second half. The 2021 Panthers starter will remain behind Walker and Mayfield on Carolina's depth chart.
wftv.comBaker Mayfield replaces ineffective P.J. Walker, and the Panthers still don't know who their starting QB is
Four weeks into his tenure as interim head coach, it's still not clear who the Panthers' starting quarterback is. Baker Mayfield lost his starting job to P.J. Mayfield replaced an ineffective Walker for the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals. After the game, Wilks wasn't ready to identify Mayfield — or anybody — as Carolina's starting quarterback with a Thursday night tilt against the Atlanta Falcons on horizon. Prior to Sunday's game, Mayfield digressed to the worst football of his NFL career with the Panthers while completing 54.9% of his passes with four touchdowns and four interceptions in four-plus games to start the season.
wftv.comPanthers ponder QB situation after rout by Bengals
Just when the Carolina Panthers’ season seemed as if it couldn’t get any worse, they played the worst first half in team history — and another change at quarterback may be in their future. Facing a Cincinnati Bengals team playing on a short week after its own embarrassing 32-13 loss on Monday night at Cleveland, Carolina (2-7) went into halftime trailing 35-0 — the largest intermission deficit in franchise history — before scoring three garbage-time touchdowns and losing 42-21. The team’s previous largest halftime deficit was 32-0 at New Orleans in Week 17 of the 2019 season on the way to a 42-10 loss.
news.yahoo.comNo McCaffrey? No problem for emboldened Panthers run game
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — (AP) — Christian McCaffrey had been the lone bright spot on the league’s 32nd ranked offense through six games this season, accounting for 39.8% of the Carolina Panthers’ yards from scrimmage. Walker played a great game, and I feel like we helped him just being able to run the ball and have him all balanced. Panthers guard Austin Corbett said after losing McCaffrey, the offensive line put it on themselves to step up. “That was the emphasis and guys really bought into that.”The running game is what ultimately broke the Bucs. After being traded, McCaffrey told Wilks he wanted to speak with his former teammates to wish them well and thank them.
wftv.comBrady, Bucs drop under .500 with shocking loss to Panthers
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — (AP) — Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell below .500 with a stunning 21-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers, who won just their second game of the season Sunday despite playing with a third-string quarterback and interim head coach. One of those incompletions came when Mike Evans dropped a wide-open 64-yard touchdown pass on the third play of the game. Walker threw for 177 yards and two touchdowns for Carolina (2-5) in place of injured Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold. D’Onta Foreman ran for 118 yards, Chuba Hubbard added 63 yards and a touchdown and the Panthers handed the Buccaneers their third loss in four games. The Panthers led 7-0 at halftime behind a 20-yard TD pass from Walker to D.J.
wftv.comTanking? Panthers positioned for No. 1 pick after CMC trade
Either way, the Carolina Panthers, who've already fired a coach this season and own the NFL's worst record at 1-5, are now well positioned to get the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft — and land the franchise quarterback they’ve coveted for years. “You have to try to win, all of the time,” Tepper said on Oct. 10 after firing coach Matt Rhule. And, yes, I understand what it is about draft picks and getting quarterbacks and stuff like that, and I understand the importance of quarterbacks in this league. These are guys we win with moving forward.”Time will tell if that holds true — the NFL trade deadline is Nov. 1.
wftv.comPanthers send Robbie Anderson to locker room midgame after sideline spat with coach
Robbie Anderson appears to have been sent to the locker room by the Carolina coaches. 📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/4a1N8MkV2K — FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 16, 2022The conflict between Anderson and Dailey started in the first half. Here’s the video of Robbie Anderson getting in the face of Joe Dailey. #Panthers Robbie Anderson is sitting away from the rest of the WRs on the sidelines. Panthers WR Robbie Anderson said he was frustrated because he was not in the game on a third down.
wftv.comNFL injury report Week 6: Panthers QB Baker Mayfield doubtful vs. Rams with ankle injury
Baker Mayfield doubtful for PanthersThe Carolina Panthers may have to go with PJ Walker on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. Mayfield, who led the team to a 1-4 start, was initially expected to miss anywhere from two to six weeks. Golladay is dealing with a knee injury, and Toney with a hamstring injury. Dennis Allen said QB Andy Dalton will start on Sunday pic.twitter.com/R1eog47Cm3 — New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 14, 2022Winston has missed the last two games for the Saints with back and ankle injuries. Fitzpatrick, who played last week against the Buffalo Bills, has been dealing with the lingering knee injury for weeks.
wftv.comPanthers WR Robbie Anderson does not seem too sad to see fired coach Matt Rhule go
Robbie Anderson on the firing of Matt Rhule. Reporter: "Do you feel like, I know a lot of the players were really behind Rhule, you were one of them. Anderson: [Shrugs shoulders], "I don't really know. Anderson joined the Panthers in 2020 as one of the Panthers' first free agent signings under Rhule. Former Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks, who had been working as the Panthers' defensive passing game coordinator, has taken over as Carolina's interim coach.
wftv.comPanthers QB Mayfield a no-show at practice once again
Quarterback Baker Mayfield was a no-show at the portion of practice open to reporters on Thursday, further increasing the likelihood that P.J. Walker will start for the Carolina Panthers against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks said Wednesday that he wasn't ready to rule out Mayfield from playing despite a sprained left ankle, but emphasized he would have to see the 2018 No. 1 overall draft pick practice before considering that option. Wilks took over the Panthers (1-4) on Monday after Matt Rhule was fired.
news.yahoo.com'POTUS is pissed': Trump was livid Supreme Court rejected his challenge to election results
During Thursday’s Jan. 6 House select committee hearing, Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., revealed a Secret Service memo from Dec. 11, 2020, detailing then-President Donald Trump’s reaction to the Supreme Court rejecting his campaign’s challenge to the 2020 election results. Additional testimony from Trump administration officials claimed that the former president had privately accepted his electoral loss prior to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
news.yahoo.comAfter Matt Rhule's firing, Steve Wilks steps into unwinnable battle too many Black coaches have fought
Wilks is now the 15th Black man to be an interim head coach in the NFL since 1990, or about 30 percent of the interim stints in the league over that time. Black coaches have gotten a chance to be a full-time head coach just 13 percent of the time over the same period, in a league where roughly two-third of players are Black. Wilks is a highly experienced coach, as are nearly all Black coaches who get a chance to become coordinators or head coaches. The bar for Black coaches who want to lead NFL teams is so high even pole vault world record holder Mondo Duplantis couldn't clear it. The goal posts never stop moving for what a team owner or GM is supposedly looking for.
wftv.comReport: Panthers QB Baker Mayfield has high-ankle sprain, expected to miss time
Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield sustained a high-ankle sprain in Sunday's loss to the San Francisco 49ers and is expected to miss time, according to multiple reports. Backup Sam Darnold is on injured reserver with his own high-ankle sprain, meaning third-year pro P.J. Walker is line to start for the Panthers in Mayfield's expected absence. The news of Mayfield's injury broke hours after the Panthers fired head coach Matt Rhule. Secondary coach Steve Wilks will serve as interim head coach.
wftv.comPanthers fire Matt Rhule after 1-4 start; Wilks takes over
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — (AP) — The Carolina Panthers fired coach Matt Rhule on Monday, ending the former Baylor coach’s tenure five games into his third losing season. Rhule, the first NFL coach to be fired this season, went 11-27 with Carolina. The Panthers fell to 1-4 with Sunday’s 37-15 home loss to San Francisco as 49ers fans made Bank of America Stadium their East Coast home. Defensive pass game coordinator and secondary coach Steve Wilks will serve as interim coach for the rest of the season. Tepper was initially patient with Rhule following Sunday's loss, but grew increasingly agitated and changed his mind on Monday.
wftv.com2 more Black coaches sue NFL alleging racial discrimination
Two coaches joined Brian Flores on Thursday, April 7, 2022, in his lawsuit alleging racist hiring practices by the NFL toward coaches and general managers. The updated lawsuit in Manhattan federal court added coaches Steve Wilks and Ray Horton. (AP Photo/David Richard) (David Richard)NEW YORK — (AP) — Two Black coaches joined Brian Flores on Thursday in his lawsuit alleging racist hiring practices by the NFL toward coaches and general managers. The updated lawsuit in Manhattan federal court added coaches Steve Wilks and Ray Horton. “When Coach Flores filed this action, I knew I owed it to myself, and to all Black NFL coaches and aspiring coaches, to stand with him,” he said.
wftv.com2 more Black coaches sue NFL alleging racial discrimination
NEW YORK — (AP) — Two Black coaches joined Brian Flores on Thursday in his lawsuit alleging racist hiring practices by the NFL toward coaches and general managers. The updated lawsuit in Manhattan federal court added coaches Steve Wilks and Ray Horton. In a release from the lawsuit's attorneys, Wilks said he hoped the lawsuit would help bring racial equality to the league. “When Coach Flores filed this action, I knew I owed it to myself, and to all Black NFL coaches and aspiring coaches, to stand with him,” he said. Messages sent to the NFL, the Arizona Cardinals and the Tennessee Titans for comment were not immediately returned.
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