The San Francisco 49ers have fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, head coach Kyle Shanahan announced on a conference call Wednesday, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Wilks is out after just one season following San Francisco’s 25-22 Super Bowl LVIII defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs this past Sunday. The 49ers ranked No. 2 in the NFL in total defense during the regular season but didn’t put up the cleanest defensive performances in the postseason. San Francisco allowed nearly 26 points per game in three playoff games and allowed the game-winning score in overtime to give Kansas City its second consecutive Super Bowl victory and third in the last five seasons.
Asked Tuesday about Wilks’ job status, Shanahan said he didn’t expect much turnover on the coaching staff.
“I haven’t talked to anybody yet,” Shanahan said. “So yeah, I expect all our coaches to be back.”
49ers making changes to coaching staff following Super Bowl LVIII defeat
As of Wednesday afternoon, not only is Wilks out, but assistant head coach/running backs coach Anthony Lynn and assistant defensive line coach Darryl Tapp have taken jobs on the Washington Commanders’ staff.
Wilks, 54, arrived in San Francisco after a year spent with the Carolina Panthers, in which he served as the interim head coach for the final 12 games of the season. He replaced DeMeco Ryans as the team’s defensive coordinator, who got the head coaching job with the Houston Texans. During the Wild Card Round of the playoffs in which the 49ers had a bye, Wilks interviewed for the head coaching openings with the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Chargers. Those jobs went to Raheem Morris and Jim Harbaugh, respectively.
“It just ended up being not the right fit,” Shanahan said Wednesday.
The next defensive coordinator will be the fourth in the last five seasons for the 49ers. Shanahan said he will consider both in-house and external candidates to fill the vacancy.
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