The San Francisco 49ers are on the hunt for a fresh defensive coordinator to propel them back into contention for the Super Bowl.
In a surprising move, the 49ers parted ways with Steve Wilks following a tough 25-22 overtime defeat against the Kansas City Chiefs. As reported by The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami, the NFC champions are edging closer to securing a replacement, with an announcement expected in the near future.
Wilks was brought on board by San Francisco last offseason to succeed DeMeco Ryans, who departed to take up the head coaching position with the Houston Texans after guiding the NFL’s top-ranked defense in 2022. Despite finishing eighth in total defense last season, the 49ers boasted one of the league’s stingiest defensive units, conceding the third-fewest points per game (17.1), trailing only the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Under Wilks’ leadership, the defense delivered crucial late interceptions in the NFC Divisional Round’s nail-biting 24-21 triumph over the Green Bay Packers. Additionally, they showcased resilience by limiting the Detroit Lions to just seven points in the second half of another impressive comeback victory.
In their showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl, San Francisco’s defense managed to contain Patrick Mahomes for the majority of the game. However, despite initially keeping the Chiefs at bay, Mahomes orchestrated two lengthy field-goal drives in the final quarter, culminating in a dramatic game-winning touchdown during overtime.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan described the decision to part ways with Wilks as a “difficult one.”
The incoming defensive coordinator for the 49ers will be under immediate pressure to sustain the team’s championship aspirations while overseeing a talented group led by superstars Nick Bosa and Fred Warner.
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