Steve Wilks could return as Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator in 2020

Rumors are starting to swirl about potential hires for Kevin Stefanski’s coaching staff. Among those rumors? Steve Wilks returning as defensive coordinator in 2020.

Now that the long-awaited announcement of the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns has been announced, its time for rumors of coaching staff hires to begin.

While not many rumors have surfaced as to who will join new head coach Kevin Stefanski as offensive coordinator, Browns fans are familiar with the name being rumored as his defensive coordinator: current defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.

While that may make many fans unhappy, much like the hiring of Stefanski over Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels or 49er’s defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, Wilks’ return to Cleveland in 2020 would not be a bad thing at all.

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Wilks was running an often maligned and short-handed defense in 2019. Not only was he without his starting cornerbacks in Denzel Ward or Greedy Williams to start the year, but both appeared injured throughout the year.

Pair those injuries with that of Olivier Vernon, the suspension of Myles Garrett, and safety Damarious Randall practically quitting on the team, and you’re left with a bunch of backups playing significant minutes.

It’s hard to win in the NFL playing backups, especially guys that had to be practically brought in off the street on a weekly basis, due in large part to John Dorsey’s lack of planning and willingness to keep depth on the roster.

Wilks was also rumored to be Stefanki’s defensive coordinator wish should he have gotten the Browns head coaching job in 2019. Instead, Wilks was hired by the man who Dorsey opted as the better head coach in Freddie Kitchens.

With “Football Guy” and his poor head coaching hire out the door, Stefanski gets the nod and can pair his use of analytics and strategy to move the Browns in the right direction. Steve Wilks appears to be in those plans in 2020.

Should that be the case, Wilks will likely have much more to work with, as Stefanski and his new general manager will work to refill the cupboards with depth that Dorsey left bare for far too long.