New Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Steve Wilks may have been one of eight minority head coaches fired after the 2018-19 NFL campaign, but that does not mean he thinks the league's Rooney Rule isn't working:
“I do think it is working,” Wilks said, according to Matthew Florjancic of WKYC 3. “Every owner has their own expectations and the things they want. I think it is about production. It is about winning. Does it take time? Yes. You look at any Fortune 500 company in the United States, they will tell you that when someone comes in and takes it over, it is going to take some time. You just wish you had that time. I think the Rooney Rule is working. I think it is effective. The coaches have to understand that this is a production-based business. That’s what it’s all about.”
The Rooney Rule states that teams must interview at least one minority candidate for head-coaching and front-office openings.
Wilks was fired after just one year as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, as the Cardinals went just 3-13, good for the worst record in the NFL.
“This is a production-based league,” Wilks added. “We did not win enough games. Would I have liked to have more time? Of course, but again, I put that behind me. They have moved on, I have moved on and I am so excited to be here as a Cleveland Brown.”
Wilks seems very excited to get back to his roots: defense.
“That is just what I love to do and having the passion and love to be around the game, and to be honest, when things like that happen, you want to get right back to work,” Wilks said. “I was very excited to do that and most importantly, do it here.
The Browns went 7-8-1 and have some talented defensive players, but there is a lot of room for improvement on that side of the ball.
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