The 49ers Hire Steve Wilks as Defensive Coordinator
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Finally, the 49ers have a new defensive coordinator.
They just hired former head coach Steve Wilks, according to the NFL Network. Wilks will replace DeMeco Ryans, who recently became the head coach of the Houston Texans.
Unlike Ryans and his predecessor, Robert Saleh, who were novices when they became defensive coordinator for the 49ers, Wilks is a veteran. He was a long-time defensive backs coach for teams such as the Chicago Bear, the San Diego Chargers and the Carolina Panthers. He also has been a defensive coordinator, an interim head coach and a head coach. He even beat Kyle Shanahan head to head in 2018 when Wilks was the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals and his quarterback was Josh Rosen.
Wilks is a tremendous leader who has a positive, upbeat attitude, similar to Ryans and Saleh. It seems as though Kyle Shanahan, who can be dour and negative, understands that he needs a certain type of coordinator to balance him out. If that's the case, good for Shanahan.
But Wilks is more than a rah-rah leader. He's a brilliant tactician and a good head coach -- the Panthers improved this season when they fired Matt Rhule and promoted Wilks. After a few seasons coaching the 49ers defense, Wilks most likely will land another head-coaching job, just as Ryans and Saleh did after a few years coaching the 49ers' loaded defense.
Wilks will now get to work with Nick Bosa, who most likely will win the Defensive Player of the Year Award, and Kris Kocurek, the best defensive line coach in the league. The 49ers defense shouldn't miss a beat.
