Steve Wilks has revealed that the Arizona Cardinals instructed him to use a burner phone while he was their head coach.
According to ESPN, who obtained a transcript of a deposition made by the 54-year-old, Wilks has offered a testimony in which he admits he was given a phone to speak to general manager Steve Keim and was under orders to do so by Keim and owner Michael Bidwill while the GM was serving a suspension for drunk driving.
“It was a directive from Keim as well as Bidwill,” Wilks said. “They both knew.”
Bidwill and other team execs are said to have spoken to Keim throughout his suspension, including during a period in which the team negotiated a three-year extension worth $39 million with running back David Johnson.
The NFL said it would not punish Keim any further after the team suspended him for the aforementioned infraction.
Wilks testified via videoconference in California on Friday, giving his account as part of an ongoing arbitration complaint filed by former Cardinals vice president of personnel Terry McDonough.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
McDonough has accused Bidwill of misconduct including discriminatory and racist treatment of employees, as well as the use of burner phones.
Wilks, who is now the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, disclosed new details about the use of burner phones and other incidents he witnessed between McDonough and Bidwill in response to questions from the latter’s attorney.
Bidwill has previously referred to the allegations as “outlandish.”
