49ers Hiring Steve Wilks As New Defensive Coordinator

He was in town interviewing for the job on Monday and clearly impressed the 49ers. 

Wilks did an incredible job leading the Panthers to a 6-6 record after he took over early in the season but was passed over for the full-time head coaching job by the Panthers for Frank Reich. This qualifies as landing on his feet, however. 

Wilks, 52, began his NFL coaching career with the Bears as their defensive backs coach back in 2006. He spent two years with the Chargers before following Ron Rivera to Carolina as their defensive backs coach.

The Panthers promoted him to assistant head coach in 2015 and then to defensive coordinator last year after Sean McDermott took the Bills’ job. Wilks agreed to become the Cardinals’ head coach in 2018 but he was fired after one season.

Wilks took over as the Browns’ defensive coordinator in 2019. He was not retained in 2020 under a new staff, though he interviewed for the DC position. Wilks had a stint with Missouri as their defensive coordinator before returning to the NFL with the Panthers this offseason as their secondary coach.

However, he was promoted to interim head coach following the firing of Matt Rhule. 

In 2022, Wilks finished with a record of 6-6 with the Panthers.