![\"49ers'](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mercurynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/BNG-L-49ERS-1225-926.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nAs the San Francisco 49ers wrap up the 2023 campaign and prepare for the offseason, coaching adjustments have<\/p>\n
been made. Head coach Kyle Shanahan declared on Wednesday that he had fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.<\/p>\n
Wilks arrived in The Bay after serving as the Carolina Panthers’ interim head coach at the conclusion of 2022. He<\/p>\n
was hired in the offseason to succeed DeMeco Ryans, who accepted a head coaching position with the Houston<\/p>\n
Texans.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
With Wilks at the helm, the 49ers defense placed third against the run (89.7 yards per game), had an NFL-high 22<\/p>\n
interceptions, and ended in the top 10 in total defense (303.9 yards per game).<\/p>\n
“(It was a) really tough decision because it really says nothing about Steve as a man or as a football coach,” said<\/p>\n
Shanahan. He’s the ideal man we could have asked for. He coaches football really well. From a strategic planning<\/p>\n
perspective, however, considering our team’s direction and current state from the beginning of the year to the past<\/p>\n
few days, we were quite certain that this choice was in the best interests of our company.<\/p>\n
“Despite the fact that I didn’t want to make it. I came to the realization that, in my opinion, the organization would<\/p>\n
benefit more from taking a different course.”<\/p>\n
Shanahan says that in addition to considering coaches with different defensive schemes, the search for a new<\/p>\n
defensive coordinator will involve both internal candidates and coaches from outside the organization.<\/p>\n
“I’m committed to try, with the situation we’re in, trying to find what we believe will give the Niners the best chance<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
have been doing things a certain way for a while. However, I wouldn’t think twice to take that action if I came onto<\/p>\n
something that I firmly believe in and may potentially be a more lucrative venture.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3203,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[93],"tags":[733],"class_list":["post-3202","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tennessee-titans","tag-tennessse-volunters"],"yoast_head":"\n