The Washington Commanders have hired Steve Wilks as a part-time assistant defensive coach, according to a person with knowledge of the decision.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the move had not been announced.
Wilks does not have a game-day role with the team, as he helps with game-planning only. He is not with the team on game days either.
Head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Daronte Jones have been working on the move since the beginning of the season, though Wilks only started last week.
Since his tenure as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2018, he has been the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns (2019), San Francisco 49ers (2023) and New York Jets (2025).
The Commanders are 1-4-1 headed into their bye week after a loss on Monday night against the 49ers. They rank 26th in the NFL in yards-per-game allowed.
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FILE - New York Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks watches from the sidelines during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sept. 29, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Doug Murray, File)
PHOENIX (AP) — Hail the size of golf balls and damaging wind gusts pounded northern and central Arizona in a rare storm blowing through, bringing with it tornado risks and possible flash floods.
The National Weather Service issued multiple warnings as severe thunderstorms moved through the state overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday, encouraging people to seek shelter and stay away from windows as damaging 2-to-3-inch hail struck the area. Hail pummeled people's roofs, shattered windows and dented cars.
Tornado watches were issued for multiple areas — the first the state has seen since Oct. 6, 2010.
Warm, moist air moving north fuels storms coming off the California coast. Changing winds can make them spin, creating the conditions for tornadoes, said Ryan Bernhart, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Flagstaff.
“This is very unusual for this area at this time of the year,” Bernhart said.
Strong winds toppled trees in Flagstaff and Mesa, with some landing on walls and carports. A few dozen ponderosa pines over 30 feet tall fell down in the Coconino National Forest, northwest of Flagstaff.
“These are not small trees that are down," Bernhart said. “These are pretty strong trees that had been knocked down.”
The greatest threat to the Phoenix metro area is heavy rainfall and flash flooding tonight and Thursday morning, said Mark O’Malley, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Phoenix.
Jessica Hill reported from Las Vegas.
Part of a covered parking area was damaged after storms hit a local apartment complex, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Storms uprooted trees in widespread damage at a local church complex after storms hit the area, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The skies are gray as a storm dumped heavy rain and hail across Flagstaff, Ariz., on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Cheyanne Mumphrey)
Tree debris obstructs part of a street as storms caused damage at a local apartment complex, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
