Panthers’ coach search: Steve Wilks, Frank Reich or a David Tepper wild card?

Panthers defensive end Brian Burns was a vocal supporter of Wilks after he became the interim coach in October.But as soon as Irsay shocked the NFL world by bringing in Jeff Saturday as interim coach, the Colts went back to Ryan at quarterback.Steve Wilks was 6-6 as Carolina’s interim coach this season.Whether Wilks’ Panthers legacy will be as an interim coach or something more should be clear any day.

Wilks and Reich have been head coaches in the NFL and know how the league operates — good, bad or otherwise.Wilks lasted one season as Arizona’s head coach in 2018 — with a rookie quarterback he didn’t choose — before the Cardinals fired him and replaced him with Kliff Kingsbury as part of the Sean McVay-inspired wave of young, offensive gurus who became head coaches.