As the San Francisco 49ers wrap up the 2023 campaign and prepare for the offseason, coaching adjustments have been made. Head
coach Kyle Shanahan declared on Wednesday that he had fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. Wilks arrived in The Bay after
serving as the Carolina Panthers’ interim head coach at the conclusion of 2022. He was hired in the offseason to succeed DeMeco
Ryans, who accepted a head coaching position with the Houston Texans.
With Wilks at the helm, the 49ers defense placed third against the run (89.7 yards per game), had an NFL-high 22 interceptions, and
ended in the top 10 in total defense (303.9 yards per game).
“(It was a) really tough decision because it really says nothing about Steve as a man or as a football coach,” said Shanahan. He’s the
ideal man we could have asked for. He coaches football really well. From a strategic planning perspective, however, considering our
team’s direction and current state from the beginning of the year to the past few days, we were quite certain that this choice was in the
best interests of our company.
“Despite the fact that I didn’t want to make it. I came to the realization that, in my opinion, the organization would benefit more from
taking a different course.”
Shanahan says that in addition to considering coaches with different defensive schemes, the search for a new defensive coordinator
will involve both internal candidates and coaches from outside the organization.
“I’m committed to try, with the situation we’re in, trying to find what we believe will give the Niners the best chance in 2024,”
Shanahan stated. “I do think it’s better to do that for a group of men who have played at a high level and have been doing things a
certain way for a while. However, I wouldn’t think twice to take that action if I came onto something that I firmly believe in and may
potentially be a more lucrative venture.”
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