Just three days after losing in the Super Bowl in heartbreaking fashion to the Kansas City Chiefs, the San Francisco 49ers made a bold move by firing defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.
Wilks was in his first year in that role, and the move caught some off-guard, although some 49ers fans were calling for his firing ever since the end of the Super Bowl on Sunday.
The 49ers have apparently begun their search for a replacement, and head coach Kyle Shanahan said they will cast a wide net, per ProFootballTalk.
“We’ve got some good coaches in here. I’m definitely going to look outside also. So there’s a number of things I got to do for the interview process,” Shanahan said.
Kyle Shanahan will look inside and outside the building for his next defensive coordinator. https://t.co/i4rdC4OKw6
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) February 15, 2024
Last season, the 49ers were the best defensive team in football, and although they remained strong in that category according to the numbers this season, there was some definite slippage.
They had trouble getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and they had problems stopping the run in the playoffs.
While San Francisco’s defense was very strong in the first half of the Super Bowl, holding Kansas City to just a field goal, it got soft and porous late in the fourth quarter and in overtime.
There are some fans who wish the 49ers would hire Bill Belichick, the legendary former New England Patriots head coach, to be their defensive coordinator.
Belichick has a sterling reputation as a defensive tactician, but it is very hard to imagine him taking a job as an assistant after forging a legacy as arguably the greatest head coach in NFL history.
The 49ers need to get this hire right, because the clock is ticking on their championship window.
NEXT:
Everyone’s Saying The Same Thing About Steve Wilks’ Firing
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