Most NFL head coaches know that if they’re lucky enough to get a second (and likely final) chance at their dream job, the deck had better be stacked in their favor.
That’s not exactly how it went for Panthers interim coach Steve Wilks, who, after Sunday’s 30–24 win over the Seahawks (and the 49ers’ Brock Purdy–inspired blowout of the Buccaneers), has Carolina sitting at 5–8 with a 22% chance of reaching the playoffs, according to FiveThirtyEight. He moved into the big chair from the position of secondary coach after the owner fired head coach Matt Rhule and defensive coordinator Phil Snow after five weeks.
Then, the franchise’s best player, Christian McCaffrey, got traded to the 49ers. Another receiver, Robbie Anderson, got traded to the Cardinals.
