The San Francisco 49ers plan to hire former Carolina Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks as their defensive coordinator.
The #49ers plan to hire Steve Wilks as their defensive coordinator, sources and @RapSheet tell me.
Wilks replaces DeMeco Ryans, who is now the #Texans head coach, and lands in an ideal spot. pic.twitter.com/vyOwVu0QPE
– Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 7, 2023
Wilks has been one of the last highly sought after trainers left on the market. His coaching experience and how he led the Panthers to a 6-6 record in his time as interim head coach will now be well represented.
He’s going to the 49ers hoping to become a full-time head coach somewhere in the near future. San Francisco has had former DCs turned head coaches. Most recently Robert Salah of the New York Jets and Da’Meco Ryans of the Houston Texans.
The Panthers made Wilks their defensive coordinator in 2017. That year they finished 7th in yards allowed and 11th in points allowed. In 2019 with the Browns he was less successful. That club finished 22nd in points and 20th in yards.
He had a one-year stint as the Cardinals’ head coach in 2018. Arizona went 3-13 that year, but Wilks could be back in the mix for a head coaching job after his performance at Carolina this year.
Now he will inherit one of the best defenses in the entire NFL. A defense that has a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate in Nick Bosa. If the Niners have a similar year defensively, there’s no question Wilks will have some appeal as a head coach.
With Wilks leading the defense, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the San Francisco 49ers were favored to win the NFC West according to California sportsbooks. The Seattle Seahawks are the only competition for the Niners unless the Los Angeles Rams make a drastic peace of mind with everyone healthy.
