As the North Carolina vacancy generates plenty of chatter about the possibility of Bill Belichick taking the job, a former prominent player at Chapel Hill has chimed in on the vacancy.
“I’m getting a few requests about my thoughts on UNC Football,” Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Julius Peppers said Monday on Twitter. “So I’ll just say it like this — ALL of the decision makers know who we want as our next leader. I think that’s all that matters. If we get him — great, if we don’t get him — that’s cool too. I’ve said my piece.”
Him, we’re told, is Steve Wilks. Wilks, 55, has interviewed for the UNC job.
A Charlotte native, Wilks coached the Cardinals in 2018. He served 12 games as interim head coach of the Panthers in 2022, going 6-6. Owner David Tepper did not hire Wilks after that season, opting instead for Frank Reich. Tepper fired Reich during the 2023 season.
Wilks spent 2023 as defensive coordinator of the 49ers. San Francisco made it to the Super Bowl with Wilks on the staff. He spent 2024 as a volunteer assistant with the Charlotte 49ers.
Peppers, the second overall pick in the 2002 draft by the Panthers, was a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He was inducted earlier this year.
