4 Panthers Who Could Leave Carolina to Reunite With Steve Wilks at New Job
By Chris Schad
After a one-year hiatus, Steve Wilks is back in the NFL. The former Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator and interim head coach agreed to serve under Aaron Glenn as the New York Jets defensive coordinator on Thursday afternoon. He will have his first job in the league since holding the same position with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023.
Like any head coach, Wilks is likely to look for some familiar faces to round out his roster. While Glenn will have the final say, there’s a good chance that Wilks will have some input as the Jets look to fill some of their holes from a year ago and some current Panthers could make the trip north to reunite with Wilks in 2025.
1. Shaq Thompson, LB
Shaq Thompson has spent his entire 10-year career with the Panthers, which goes back to when Wilks served as a defensive backs coach under Ron Rivera in 2012. Even though Thompson’s best stretch of his career happened after Wilks became the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2018, his career has taken a downturn. He suffered a broken fibula in 2023 and a torn Achilles in 2024, resulting in him playing six games over the past two seasons.
While Thompson would like to stay in Carolina, he's more likely to leave Carolina in free agency, and a familiar face in Wilks could help him revive his career. While there’s a significant injury risk, Thompson could help the Jets transition to Wilks’ defensive scheme and potentially compete for a starting role if he stays healthy.
2. Xavier Woods, S
Another member of the Panthers' defense could find himself in a Jets jersey next season. Xavier Woods has spent the last three seasons with Carolina since signing as a free agent ahead of the 2022 season. He's coming off one of his best statistical seasons as a pro with 119 total tackles, three interceptions, and six pass deflections.
Unfortunately, Woods was also part of a secondary that allowed the most points in the NFL and a defense that allowed the most passing touchdowns last season. While defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero is still there, the Panthers fired secondary coach Bert Watts shortly after the season. Watts may not be the only person heading out of town by the end of the offseason and a "mass exodus" could help Woods land in New York.