The Commanders have added another defensive mind to the coaching staff. The franchise hired Steve Wilks in an advisory role, a source familiar with the move confirmed Wednesday.
Wilks’ role is to help install game plans alongside coach Dan Quinn and first-year defensive coordinator Daronte Jones. He joins them on Sunday nights and departs after Wednesday’s weekly practice.
The move was not related to any recent performance by Washington’s defense, with one source noting that Quinn and Jones had been working on the plan since the beginning of the season.
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The blitz and disguise-heavy scheme that Jones brought to Washington has seen mixed results through six games.
The 1-4-1 Commanders rank 29th in the NFL with 28.7 points allowed per game and 26th with 354.5 yards allowed on average.
The red zone has proven particularly catastrophic. Washington ranks worst in the league, allowing opponents to score touchdowns on 82% of their trips into the red zone.
Wilks most recently worked as the New York Jets’ defensive coordinator in 2025. He held the same role with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023 and with the Cleveland Browns in 2019. The 57-year-old has also served as a head coach in the past. He finished with a disastrous 1-15 record during his lone season leading the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 before leading the Carolina Panthers to a 6-6 record as their interim coach in 2022.
The Commanders are currently on a bye week. They return to practice next Wednesday to prepare for a Nov. 1 clash against the Philadelphia Eagles.
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