Wilks
At a press conference on Tuesday, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. He stated that he anticipated all of the team’s coaches, including defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, returning for the 2024 campaign. However, very different information regarding Wilks’ future with the NFC West team was revealed on Wednesday. The 49ers finished the regular season ranked third in terms of points allowed and eighth. Regarding yards allowed, they struggled to contain offenses in the postseason. Shanahan expressed his opinion that Wilks wasn’t the best defensive player for the team in the end. During a hurriedly convened conference call on Wednesday afternoon, Shanahan informed. In a significant shake-up for the NFC champions heading into the offseason, Shanahan stated that the organization will evaluate internal and external applicants to take over as the new coordinator.
The San Francisco 49ers, who lost to the Chiefs in overtime in the Super Bowl in 2024, fired their head coach on a conference call with the media on Wednesday. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan announced the dismissal of Steve Wilks as defensive coordinator.
After serving as the Carolina Panthers’ temporary head coach the previous season, Wilks, 54, was only in San Francisco for one season. In 2018, Wilks led the Arizona Cardinals as their head coach.
Stats
There were ups and downs for the defense during Wilks’ only season with the Niners. Under DeMeco Ryans, a team that led the NFL in 2022 in several categories—including the fewest points allowed per game (16.3) and defensive anticipated points added (89.58)—regressed in 2023. Although the 49ers were ninth in defensive EPA (41.48) and caused major leaks against the run in the postseason, allowing the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, and Kansas City Chiefs to average 5.1 yards per carry and 149.3 yards per game, San Francisco still finished third in points allowed (17.5) this season. And although I was hurting, I had no choice but to do this.” Following a 5-0 start in which the defense appeared unbeatable, the Wilks saw some setbacks. Before the half, Shanahan publicly chastised him for an all-out blitz call that gave the Minnesota Vikings a touchdown in a Week 7 loss.
Shanahan requested Wilks go from the booth to the field on game days during the bye-Week 9. “Well, there are a lot more factors involved. Additionally, he was entering a system that he didn’t run, so it was a difficult job for him the entire time. It’s difficult to maintain that kind of play, so he had to come to see what we did and that we were the best defense a year ago. However, we were still this league’s strongest defense, and I believe we performed at our peak when it mattered most.” The 49ers will now start their third straight season-long hunt for a defensive coordinator. Shanahan declared he would take into account both outside and internal possibilities. Searching internally has the advantage of allowing him to locate someone who is already familiar with the plan and would fit in better, just like Saleh and Ryan did.
This year
But Shanahan would much rather have a coordinator who can more effectively link the defensive front and secondary. Wilks had coached linebackers for a long time, unlike Ryans and Saleh, who were both experienced in the position. “You want to tie things together, and Steve was always working to do that,” said Shanahan. “There is no question about it. But it was just for his background and how it ended up with us; it was harder than it needed to be, and I felt it would improve us going in a different direction.” After serving as the Carolina Panthers’ temporary coach at the end of 2022, Wilks joined the Niners. In 2018, he was fired from his position as coach of the Arizona Cardinals after one season. For 2,836 yards, 12 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and 12 fumbles, Ridder completed 64.2% of his throws. In 2023, Heinicke finished with 890 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions on 54.4% of quarterback passes. Both have contracts that expire in 2024. In the third year of his rookie contract, Ridder is playing. Heinicke has a $9 million salary, but should Atlanta decide to trade him, he will save $7 million in cap space.
By Jerome Stuckey
Source:
NBC Sports: 49ers fire defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, by Josh Alper
New York Post: fire defensive coordinator Steve Wilks after Super Bowl 2024 crusher by Justin Tasch
ESPN: 49ers fire D-coordinator Steve Wilks after one season By Nick Wagoner
Inset image Courtesy of Victor Lee Creative Commons license
Inset Image courtesy of Kroll Kroll Creative Commons license
