Panthers land SEC defensive coordinator as new secondary coach

The Carolina Panthers have hired former Missouri defensive coordinator and NFL head coach Steve Wilks to become the defensive backs coach, according to team press release. Wilks spent one season at Missouri under Eli Drinkwitz in 2021 but returns to the NFL with a familiar team.

Steve Wilks previously served the Carolina Panthers from 2012-2017 as a defensive backs coach and assistant head coach. He took the defensive coordinator position in 2017 and served one season before taking the Arizona Cardinals head coaching position.

Although he lasted just one season with the Cardinals, he immediately joined the Cleveland Browns as defensive coordinator in 2019. After taking a year off in 2020, he returned to the college ranks for the first time since 2005 and stayed for just one season.

Panthers hire another former head coach

Carolina Panthers also filled another essential coaching vacancy, on defensive. On Tuesday, the Panthers announced that they have agreed to terms with Paul Pasqualoni to be defensive line coach.

Pasqualoni is a veteran coach with extensive experience on both the college and NFL levels. Not only that, but he has coached on both sides of the ball. The 72-year-old coach spent 14 years of his career as the head coach at Syracuse and was recently inducted into their Hall of Fame. Pasqualoni was in Florida the last two years after joining the Gators in 2020. He was retained by Billy Napier before leaving for the Panthers job.

Napier spoke very highly of Pasqualoni in an interview with the Orlando Sentinel. When asked about retaining Pasqualoni, Napier replied:

“Wisdom. Not only is he a very knowledgeable guy, but he’s applied that knowledge. This guy, there’s a difference knowing what to do and then actually taking that knowledge and applying it. He’s solved a lot of problems in his day,” Napier told the Orlando Sentinel. “He’s seen it done a lot of different ways. You’re always looking at people who have perspective, who have maturity — and will give you an opinion. I’m always seeking out opinions. I want somebody that’s different than me. He’s capable of doing that.”

As far as his time in the pros goes, he has served as tight ends, linebackers, and defensive line coach during two stints with the Cowboys. Pasqualoni has also worked as the line coach in Houston and Chicago, and the defensive coordinator in Miami from 2008 to 2009 and in Detroit from 2018 to 2019. Altogether, he brings 10 years worth of experience at the NFL level to the Panthers.