The San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan announced the dismissal of defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. This happened just three days after the San Francisco 49ers‘ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 58. This marks the first high-profile firing under Shanahan’s tenure, besides losing coaches to better opportunities elsewhere.

The decision to part ways with Wilks is a surprising shake-up in the aftermath of the Super Bowl defeat. But it was inevitable. At least, that’s what the NFL reporter Ian Rapoport seems to believe. Rapoport saw it a long time coming since Wilks didn’t seem like a perfect fit for his defensive role at the Niners.

Ian Rapoport goes into the details of the Steve Wilks situation

The decision to make Steve Wilks the scapegoat for the San Francisco 49ers’ disappointing Super Bowl loss seems perplexing, especially given the strong performance of the team’s defense for most of the game. During the first half, the 49ers successfully held the Chiefs to just three points, showcasing a robust defensive effort. Even Kansas City’s sole touchdown in regulation occurred following a muffed punt deep in San Francisco territory.

Additionally, the defense had to cope with the absence of star linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who suffered an Achilles injury midway through the game. Irrespective of these instances, Rapoport stated, “This really was coming. Even mid-season, it didn’t really feel like a great fit for Steve Wilks under Kyle Shanahan. Remember when he was in the booth and they had him coming down to the field, that was probably the first sign, all was not well.”

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He added, “So much of what defense coordinator does, is put the players in great position to succeed. The sort of angst from the players of the 49ers, Nick Bosa was one, was maybe not a great sign overall. Just didn’t seem like Kyle Shanahan and Wilks were on the same page here.” He also pointed out the time when Wilks called for a timeout at the Super Bowl because he didn’t like the “play call.” In addition, Rapoport further moves on to take the potential names that could fill the void of a defensive coordinator in the team

Here are some of the big-time names for the position!

As the San Francisco 49ers continue to enjoy success, the team faces the annual challenge of replacing key assistants. It’s become a trend that’s almost synonymous with head coach Kyle Shanahan’s tenure. While these decisions are often not by choice, the team’s triumphs have led to coaches seeking better opportunities with other organizations.

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Over the past three offseasons, the 49ers witnessed the departure of crucial offensive assistants. Mike LaFleur, Mike McDaniel, and Bobby Slowik all chose to move on to more substantial roles elsewhere. A similar fate has been bestowed upon Wilks this time, however, the question arises, what’s the best option for the Niners now?

Ian Rapoport has an answer. He stated, “There are a lot of big-time names available. Brandon Staley certainly is one, would expect him to get some consideration. Chris Harris, really good secondary coach, I know was gonna get some consideration as well.”

Alongside these names, he also said, “Nick Sorensen is one of the internal candidates, the 49ers are going to consider.”  Internally, Daniel Bullocks (49ers’ defensive backs coach and Kris Kocurek (49ers’ defensive line coach) also stand as potential candidates for the vacancy. Externally, Bill Belichick, Mike Vrabel, and Pete Carroll have been tossed as potential candidates.

Rapoport believes that the Niners will most likely look at every possible option before making a decision. More so because they’ve ample time on their hands right now.

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