Recall that the 49ers hired Wilks over the offseason, refused to allow him to bring his coaching staff or plan with him, and then blamed him for the team’s failure in overtime during the Super Bowl. Finding a coach willing to take his place could be challenging, since that coach could easily end up being the next victim of criticism if the 49ers fail to win the Super Bowl the following year.
According to Ian Rapoport on The NFL Network, “even midseason, it didn’t really feel like a great fit for Steve Wilks and for Kyle Shanahan.” “Do you recall when they made him come out to the field when he was in the booth? That was most likely the first indication that something was wrong. A defensive coordinator’s primary responsibility is to position the guys.
“There are several well-known names available for where they go from here. Undoubtedly, Brandon Staley is one. I would think that he would be given some thought. I know Chris Harris, a really talented secondary coach, was very close to winning the position last year when Steve Wilks took it. The 49ers will take into consideration Nick Sorensen as one of their internal prospects. I don’t get the impression that this will be a quick fix. Since they are the only candidates for the position of defensive coordinator, they have some time. When it comes to hiring their defensive coordinator, they will search everywhere.”
