NFL notes: Cardinals select Steve Wilks as their new head coach

Steve Wilks is the new head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.

The Cardinals announced Monday that the 48-year-old Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator had agreed to a four-year contract with a team option for a fifth.

Wilks spent one season as coordinator in Carolina, his 12th year as an NFL assistant. Wilks spent five seasons as Panthers secondary coach before his promotion a year ago.

Wilks replaces the colorful and outspoken Bruce Arians, who retired after five seasons and compiled a franchise-record 50 victories.

With the hiring of Wilks, all three major football programs in the state have black coaches — Wilks, Herm Edwards at Arizona State and Kevin Sumlin at Arizona. Wilks is the Cardinals' second black coach (Denny Green was the first) and the only minority to get an NFL head coaching job this hiring cycle.

The Cardinals were 8-8 last season despite significant injuries and closed out Arians' career with a win in Seattle.

"This is not really a rebuild, this is a retool," Wilks told azcardinals.com. "We have the culture of winning here. We just have to be able to sustain it. It's all about trying to get to the next level and the consistency you need to get to the next level."

• Todd Haley, fired last week as Steelers offensive coordinator, will take over that role with the Browns, the Associated Press reported, citing unidentified sources.

• The Falcons announced that Greg Knapp is returning to the team as quarterback coach, working with 2016 MVP Matt Ryan. Knapp replaces Bush Hamdan, who left to become the offensive coordinator at the University of Washington.