After weeks of interviews and waiting, the Arizona Cardinals have reportedly found their next head coach. Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport have reported the Cardinals are closing in on Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks as their next head coach. Wilks, 48, would be taking over his first team as head coach. He’s has spent the last 13 years in the NFL.

#AZCardinals are closing in on a head-coaching hire, sources tell me and @RapSheet, with #Panthers DC Steve Wilks emerging as the clear favorite. No other second interviews currently scheduled. — Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 22, 2018

Wilks finished his first season as defensive coordinator in the NFL. He previously served as the Panthers defensive backs coach since 2012. He has been an NFL coach since 2005, coaching the secondary with the Redskins, Bears, and Chargers in addition to the Panthers.

The reported move for Wilks comes on the heels of the Cardinals entering the second round of interviews. Other head coach openings have seemingly been filled in Indianapolis and New York with Josh McDaniels and Pat Shurmur reportedly heading to those teams. One sign pointing to the decision to go with Wilks is the lack of interviews scheduled this week.

True. Panthers have expected Steve Wilks to leave and are prepared. https://t.co/cv0B65jsak — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 22, 2018

If the Cardinals indeed go with Wilks as their new head coach, it is likely James Bettcher will be on the hunt for a new job. Bettcher has long been considered a major player in the Cardinals’ search and received a recommendation by former coach Bruce Arians. However, it seems that general manager Steve Keim and the front office have found their new man, and that man is Steve Wilks.

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We’ll be back with more news if and when the Cardinals make the hiring official. Until then, rumors are just that and the search continues.

– Ryan Adverderada is the Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage Cardinals. Like and follow on Follow @ryanadverderada Follow @Cardinals and Facebook.