• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Browns Nation

Browns News. Rumors. Highlights. Now

  • Home
  • News
  • Free Agents
  • Draft
  • Podcast
  • History
  • All-Time Lists
  • Team
    • Shop
    • Schedule
  • About
You are here: Home / Daily News / 2 Former Cardinals Coaches Lead Browns In Sunday Matchup

2 Former Cardinals Coaches Lead Browns In Sunday Matchup

By Ben Donahue December 14, 2019 @BenDonahue2187

steve wilks
Steve Wilks

 

When the Cleveland Browns take the field in Arizona this Sunday, they will be led by two former Cardinals coaches.

Both head coach Freddie Kitchens and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks once paced the sideline for the Cardinals.

Kitchens spent 11 seasons in Arizona while Wilks only served one.

Both coaches experienced very different results during their time in the desert.

 

Kitchens’ Experience in Arizona

 

Kitchens spent time coaching in the college ranks before moving up to the NFL.

After one season with Dallas, Kitchens moved on to Arizona, where he spent 11 seasons.

Beginning in 2007, Kitchens served as their tight ends coach for six seasons.

Before the 2013 season, he became the quarterbacks’ coach and then coached the running backs in 2017.

Almost immediately, Kitchens experienced great success as a member of Arizona’s coaching staff.

In 2008, Kitchens’s second season with the team, the Cardinals finished the season with a 9-7 record.

That team ended up going to Super Bowl XLIII versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In a wildly entertaining game that came down to the wire, Arizona lost 27-23.

The Cardinals nearly went to the Super Bowl again in 2015, but lost to the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Championship 49-15.

As a coach in Arizona, Kitchens helped the Cardinals reach the playoffs four times.

 

Wilks’ Experience in Arizona

 

Wilks was also a college coach before joining the NFL coaching circle.

After serving on the staff of the Bears and Chargers, Wilks joined the Carolina Panthers in 2012.

Upon arriving in Carolina, Wilks served as the defensive backs coach for three seasons.

In 2015, he was promoted to assistant head coach along with his defensive back coaching duties.

It was during this season that he faced Kitchens and Arizona in the NFC title game.

In 2017, Wilks became the defensive coordinator for the Panthers.

During his time with the Panthers, the team went to the playoffs four times, including Super Bowl 50 in 2015.

After the 2017 season, Wilks was a hot coaching commodity and was quickly hired by the Cardinals.

Wilks’ experience with a winning team in Carolina would not be replicated in Arizona.

Wilks was expected to help shape the defense and return the Cardinals to the playoffs.

However, the team never got on track.

The only bright spot of 2018 was the Cardinal’s first-ever victory against the Packers in Green Bay.

Despite that accomplishment, Arizona finished the 2018 season 3-13, their worst record since 2000.

Shortly after the season ended, Wilks was fired by the Cardinals after serving only one season as the head coach.

 

Kitchens and Wilks Together in Cleveland

 

Wilks wouldn’t be out of a job for long.

Kitchens left Arizona for Cleveland in 2018 before Wilks became the head coach.

Following the 2018 season, Kitchens was promoted to head coach.

One of his first hires was the recently fired Wilks, whom Kitchens named as his defensive coordinator.

Now both coaches will try and outperform Wilks’ Arizona replacement, Kliff Kingsbury, on Sunday.

Although his tenure in the desert was short, Wilks holds no ill will toward the Cardinals.

Wilks spoke to the media recently about his time in Arizona.  “What I learned was just really how to deal with adversity,” he said.  “As a head coach, trying to prepare each and every week, trying to get your guys up to perform at a high level.

It was difficult going through the struggles, but I thought the guys performed and played well, and they stayed together throughout.

There were a lot of things that I learned, and a lot of things I will carry moving forward.”

Recent News

Cleveland Browns cornerback Greedy Williams (26) on the field during the third quarter of the National Football League game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns on November 14, 2019, at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, OH.
Greedy Williams Announces Return From Shoulder Injury
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) celebrates after Cleveland Browns wide receiver Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi (15) (not pictured) returned a punt 86-yards for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the National Football League preseason game between the Washington Redskins and Cleveland Browns on August 8, 2019, at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, OH.
Baker Mayfield Thinks He Saw UFO And Fans Respond
Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) during a game between the Denver Broncos and the visiting Cincinnati Bengals on November 19, 2017 at Sports Authority Field in Denver, CO.
Browns Among Favorites To Land Von Miller If Released By Broncos

Filed Under: Daily NewsTagged With: Cleveland Browns, Freddie Kitchens, Steve Wilks

About Ben Donahue

Over 20 years of experience in sports including coach, athletic director, game day operations, media relations, football operations, and scout.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Primary Sidebar

Search Browns Nation

Trending News

Footer

Terms and Conditions

Privacy Policy

 

Join Our Newsletter

Contact Us

 

Follow us

Copyright © 2021 · ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - Brownsnation.com

Copyright © 2020 · ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BrownsNation.com is not affiliated with the Cleveland Browns or the National Football League