In 2023, the San Francisco 49ers concluded their season like many other teams in the NFL: with disappointment. However, the Niners’ disappointment was amplified because they came so close to winning the Super Bowl. At halftime, San Francisco held a 10-point lead and appeared to be in a strong position. Unfortunately, the second half took a turn for the worse. The Kansas City Chiefs offense ignited, scoring 22 points in the second half and overtime. While it’s unfair to place blame solely on one individual for the 49ers’ loss, it did result in the firing of defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. According to Kyle Shanahan, the head coach of the 49ers, Wilks was relieved of his duties. This decision comes as a surprise considering Wilks’ role in leading the defense to the Super Bowl. However, the Niners’ defense struggled throughout the postseason, trailing in all three of their playoff games. Despite this, many people find it unexpected that the Niners opted to let go of Wilks. Facing Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs is undoubtedly a challenging task, but Wilks’ defense performed admirably. Some believe that Wilks had a wealth of talent to work with on the Niners’ defense and could have achieved more. However, his performance in the postseason was lackluster compared to his success in the regular season. It’s clear that Wilks was not a good fit for the team, which is why he was let go. Unfortunately for Wilks, all other defensive coordinator positions in the league have been filled, meaning he will likely have to accept a lesser role if he wishes to coach in 2024.
According to the Source thecoldwire.com