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.”