When asked about defensive coordinator Steve Wilks’ prior performance and future employment with the San
Francisco 49ers on Tuesday, head coach Kyle Shanahan issued a broad statement regarding his coaching staff.
“I haven’t talked to anybody yet,” he told me. “So yeah, I expect all our coaches to be back.”
On Wednesday, the 49ers fired Wilks, who completed his first year with the organization in that post.
The 49ers lost Super Bowl LVIII to the Kansas City Chiefs, 25-22, in a game in which the defense performed
admirably for most of the game but faltered late. The Chiefs scored only one touchdown in regulation, which came
off a muffed punt deep in San Francisco territory. It was even more impressive given that Dre Greenlaw suffered a
ruptured Achilles midway through the game and Arik Armstead and Javon Hargrave were playing through ailments
in the Super Bowl.
However, on the final possession of regular and the opening series of overtime, the 49ers’ defense was unable to
prevent Patrick Mahomes from doing enough — a few times with his legs — to propel them to victory late.
Nick Bosa told reporters that the 49ers “could’ve been more prepared” for Mahomes as a runner in the read-option
game, citing the quarterback’s two important conversions late.
“You kind of have to anticipate Mahomes wanting to have the ball in his hands,” Bosa went on to say. “We’ve played
a lot of read-option teams, so we know what to expect. However, it is difficult to play against a team that can beat you
in a variety of ways. It ended up being a significant few moments when they did bring it out. “We will learn from it.”
