The 49ers fire Steve Wilks, who was the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers for just one season after the Super Bowl. The head coach, Kyle Shanahan, announced this sudden decision in a conference call on Wednesday, which was organized just 10 minutes before it took place.
Earlier, Shanahan had been avoiding questions about Wilks’ future with the team, saying he needed more time to think about his coaching staff. However, by Wednesday morning, Shanahan had decided that a change was necessary. During Wilks’ time with the Niners, the defense had its good and bad moments. Despite performing well in some areas in 2022, like allowing the fewest points per game and having a strong defensive expected point added, the defense didn’t maintain the same level of success in 2023.
Struggles and Adjustments
Despite ranking third in points allowed this season, the San Francisco 49ers faced some defensive issues. They ranked ninth in defensive effectiveness and had trouble stopping the run in the playoffs. Teams like the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, and Kansas City Chiefs exploited these weaknesses, averaging over 5 yards per carry and nearly 150 yards per game on the ground. Coach Shanahan admitted to some of the team’s struggles, particularly after losing key personnel like DeMeco Ryans and Robert Saleh.
A Look at San Francisco’s Defensive Challenges
When the 49ers fire Steve Wilks, Shanahan acknowledged the challenge of maintaining the same defensive system with new coaches. He expressed difficulty in adapting after losing experienced players who were familiar with the system. Despite a strong start to the season, the team faced obstacles, notably when Shanahan publicly criticized defensive coordinator Wilks for a risky play call that backfired.
Changes Ahead for 49ers Defense
In the recent Super Bowl loss, Coach Shanahan made a decision to stop the game momentarily while the opposing team, the Chiefs, were on the offense. This move was made when the Chiefs were in a good position to advance but Shanahan didn’t like the setup of their play. After the Chiefs won, one of our players, Nick Bosa, admitted that our team wasn’t fully ready for certain plays the Chiefs had planned, especially those involving their quarterback running contributing as to why 49ers fire Steve Wilks
On Look for a New after 49ers fire Steve Wilks
During a team meeting where players cleaned out their lockers, Bosa shared his thoughts on how the team’s performance in the previous year went. He wasn’t entirely impressed with Wilks’ coaching in 2023. On the other hand, linebacker Fred Warner was more positive, highlighting our team’s achievements in turnovers and interceptions, which were among the best in the league. Now, the 49ers are on the lookout for a new defensive coordinator for the third time in three years. Shanahan is considering both current team members and people from outside the organization for the role.
Choosing the Right One
After 49ers fire Steve Wilks, choosing someone from within the team might seem convenient because they already know our strategies, Shanahan also wants someone who can better connect the defensive strategies with both the front and back lines of defense. Unlike our previous coordinators who had experience with linebackers, Wilks primarily worked with the secondary, which didn’t mesh as well with our team’s needs.
From Panthers to Niners: Wilks’s Coaching Journey
Wilks joined the Niners after stepping in as the temporary coach for the Carolina Panthers in 2022. Before that, he led the Arizona Cardinals in 2018, but things didn’t go well, and he got let go after a tough season with a 3-13 record. Following his departure, Wilks got involved in a lawsuit with Brian Flores in 2022, accusing the NFL of racial discrimination. In the lawsuit, Wilks claimed that the Cardinals didn’t treat him fairly because of his race. He felt they only saw him as a temporary fix, or what he called a “bridge coach,” rather than giving him a genuine chance to succeed.