The San Francisco 49ers fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks Wednesday in a surprise move just three days after their loss in Super Bowl LVIII.
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan announced the move during a conference call with reporters.
“This morning I relieved Steve Wilks of his duties,” Shanahan said (via ESPN). “(We’re) going to end up making a change here at defensive coordinator. A really tough decision, because [it] really says nothing about Steve as a man or as a football coach. I mean he’s exactly what we wanted as a man. He is a great football coach.
“But just where we’re going and where we’re at with our team from a scheme standpoint and things like that, looking through it all throughout the year to these last few days, I felt pretty strongly that this was a decision that was best for organization.”
Wilks only held the post for one season. The 49ers had one of the NFL’s top defenses in 2023, finishing third in scoring defense, fifth in turnovers and eighth in total yards allowed. However, the 49ers got gouged by the run in the postseason, yielding 5.1 yards per carry to the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions and Chiefs
While Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw for 333 yards and ran for 66 more in the Super Bowl, you should expect that — he is Patrick Mahomes. The fact the 49ers held KC to one touchdown in regulation deserves plenty of credit.
The 54-year-old Wilks’ job loss comes at a bad time for him, with head coaching and DC positions this offseason already filled. He has previously served as head coach with the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals and DC with the Cleveland Browns and Panthers.
The NFL world quickly reacted to the stunning news.
Shanahan says it was a tough decision and he didn’t mention it yesterday because he wasn’t sure at that point which direction he’d go. Says Wilks’ system didn’t align with what the #49ers had run previously, adds, “It just ended up not being the right fit.” https://t.co/PrdO6hfCgR
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 14, 2024
This is nasty work. SF loses Dre Greenlaw during the game, and gives up 19 points to KC in regulation. I get that this firing probably isn’t about one game, but they don’t make this move if SF wins. https://t.co/hUVlrcMI1e
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) February 14, 2024
This is nasty business! https://t.co/Y6vMXmFJpC
— Carl Reed Jr. (@CoachReedLive) February 14, 2024
He’s not the reason his team lost. https://t.co/RKWeEDdN1q
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) February 14, 2024
Not understanding this one https://t.co/nIRJWaCzxB
— Damien Woody (@damienwoody) February 14, 2024
Less than three days ago, this man was leading the Super Bowl at halftime, having held KC to three points and Travis Kelce to one yard https://t.co/gsjK4A1y50
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) February 14, 2024
Kyle Shanahan is clearly the problem of why San Francisco cannot reach the next level, but the 49ers know they can’t take the chance of firing him. Steve Wilks is the fall-guy. Just a repeating cycle at this point in SF. https://t.co/L5RYaO2M66
— State of the Eagles (@StateofEagles) February 14, 2024
Kyle Shanahan: Coward
Wilks is getting scapegoated for Shanahan’s inability to call plays with a lead or make proper game management decisions
Chief’s scored 3 points in the 1H and had ONE legitimate TD drive in the entire game https://t.co/lJrPO3W0rv
— Joe’s Picks (@Joes_Picks) February 14, 2024
[ESPN]
