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NFL Coach Power Rankings: Where Jay Gruden fits in among the 32 coaches

By Jacob Camenker

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 29: Head coach Jay Gruden of the Washington Redskins talks with quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins in the fourth quarter of a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on August 29, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Matt Hazlett/ Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 29: Head coach Jay Gruden of the Washington Redskins talks with quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins in the fourth quarter of a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on August 29, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Matt Hazlett/ Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CA – CIRCA 2011: In this handout image provided by the NFL, Steve Wilks of the San Diego Chargers poses for his NFL headshot circa 2011 in San Diego, California. (Photo by NFL via Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – CIRCA 2011: In this handout image provided by the NFL, Steve Wilks of the San Diego Chargers poses for his NFL headshot circa 2011 in San Diego, California. (Photo by NFL via Getty Images) /

Arizona Cardinals. Steve Wilks. 24. player. 32. . Head Coach

There are a lot of similarities between Steve Wilks and another head coach on this list. That would be Vance Joseph, who checked in at the No. 30 spot overall. That’s not necessarily an indictment of Wilks, as he has yet to coach a game at the NFL level, but his career trajectory to date has been similar to Joseph’s.

Before becoming the head coach of the Broncos, Joseph spent the start of his career at the collegiate level, spending six years working mostly as a defensive backs coach for various colleges. Then, he moved up to the NFL level, spending a decade as a defensive backs coach before becoming a defensive coordinator for one season with the Dolphins. Then, he was hired by the Broncos to take over for Gary Kubiak.

Wilks’ path was slightly different. He actually started his college coaching career as a defensive coordinator, and would eventually spend the 1999 season as the head coach at Savannah State. After that, he spent six years bouncing around to six different schools serving as a defensive backs coach and once as a defensive coordinator.

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Then, Wilks spent a decade as a defensive backs coach, though he did earn the title of assistant head coach in Carolina before his promotion to defensive coordinator. And after one season at the helm of the Panthers defense, the Cardinals elected to bring him on as the head coach.

In Wilks’ lone season as defensive coordinator, he led the team to a great season, finishing seventh in yards allowed and 11th in scoring defense. He was able to help develop some of the young corners like James Bradberry into solid starters while still working to establish a strong front seven. That is exactly what he will be asked to do in Arizona.

Much like Joseph, it’s hard to predict exactly what Wilks will be able to do because he has only a small sample size of time as an NFL coordinator. That said, he seems like an up-and-coming star like Joseph, and it’s possible that he could help turn the Cardinals defense around. Of course, he could struggle as he learns the ropes as well. Thankfully, the Cardinals front office tends to be patient and they will likely give Wilks a chance to prove himself.

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