The San Francisco 49ers will be without a key contributor in 2023 and are actively looking for a replacement.
DeMeco Ryans, their former defensive coordinator, has accepted a head coaching job for the Houston Texans, leaving the 49ers to fill their vacant position.
Thankfully for the 49ers, on Monday, they will be conducting an interview with an impressive candidate.
Former #Panthers interim coach Steve Wilks will interview on Monday for the #49ers DC job vacated by DeMeco Ryans, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 3, 2023
Steve Wilks is set to interview with the 49ers on Monday.
Although Wilks was the interim head coach for the Carolina Panthers in 2022, he has spent much of his career focused on the defensive side of the ball.
Wilks has 27 years of coaching experience between the collegiate and professional levels, including 16 years in the NFL.
He was a defensive backs coach for eight seasons, a head coach for two seasons, and has been a defensive coordinator for three seasons.
Wilks has lots of experience and could prove to be extremely valuable to the 49ers organization.
This season, the 49ers were the NFL’s best defense in terms of points allowed per game.
If Wilks was able to take the position, he will join a defense that is loaded with talent.
Nick Bosa, Dre Greenlaw, and Fred Warner are just three defensive pieces that make the 49ers a desirable defense for any coach to join.
Although the 49ers have been able to consistently make it to the NFC Championship in three of the past four seasons, they haven’t won a Super Bowl since 1994.
Could adding in a veteran coach like Wilks be the difference-maker that this team needs?
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