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Former 49ers Coach Steve Wilks is a Candidate to Sign With the Jets

This former 49ers coach could be back in the NFL soon after taking a one-year hiatus in 2024 to join the Jets.
Jose Sanchez|
Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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San Francisco 49ers

Back like he never left?

Former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks could be signing with the New York Jets soon to take on the same role. Wilks took a one-year hiatus from the NFL after the 49ers cut ties with him following last year's Super Bowl loss.

If the Jets hire Wilks, he would join former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn who signed on to become the new head coach. It would appear the two have a close enough relationship for them to come together in New York.

It's unclear if Wilks would be calling the plays or if it would be Glenn. Either way, Wilks would at least work for a head coach that he has a relationship with. It wasn't that way when he joined the 49ers with Kyle Shanahan.

Not having a relationship with a coach can create distrust, which is what happened to Wilks in 2023 after the game against the Minnesota Vikings. A Cover-0 blitz call before halftime frustrated Shanahan and that started the strain on the relationship with Wilks.

The 49ers ended up firing Wilks after the season despite the 49ers' defense performing really well. However, there were issues with the 49ers' defense in getting the pass rush to tie with the coverage. Plus, the players stopped believing in Wilks, which makes it difficult to execute.

Still, Wilks was better than Nick Sorensen who preceded him as the 49ers' defensive coordinator. It's funny how Wilks might find a job in 2025 before the 49ers filled their vacancy at defensive coordinator with a two-week head start.

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Jose Luis Sanchez III
JOSE SANCHEZ

Jose Luis Sanchez III has covered the San Francisco 49ers daily for FanNation since 2019. He started off as the lead publisher for FanNation's All49ers, then switched positions to become the Deputy Editor in 2020. Sanchez writes, edits, and produces videos daily for All49ers. He also co-hosts a show on YouTube with All49ers lead publisher Grant Cohn weekly. Prior to FanNation, Sanchez started his writing career back in 2016 for the school newspaper at Skyline college where he covered all sports team in the Bay Area. Following that from 2017 to 2019, he found a role as a contributor for FanSided's news desk along with their site's Just Blog Baby covering the Las Vegas Raiders and Golden Gate Sports every professional Bay Area sports team. Atop all of that, he was able to graduate with a Bachelors degree in Communication Studies at San Francisco State University in 2020. Sanchez is committed to ensuring he delivers transparent analysis and straightforward opinions that resonates with readers to get them thinking.

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