The former interim head coach of the Panthers now assumes the reins of the best defensive unit in the entire NFL
SANTA CLARA — The san francisco 49ers hired the former interim head coach of the Carolina Panthers, Steve Wilksas the new defensive coordinator.
A person familiar with the decision said Tuesday that Wilks will fill the void left DeMeco Ryanswho was hired as the head coach of the Houston Texans. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the hiring has not been announced.
NFL Network first reported that Wilks got the job.
Wilks He was the defensive backs coach at the NFL longtime defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns y Carolinabefore becoming the interim coach of the Panthers this season. He was also head coach one season with the Arizona Cardinalsbut was fired after going 3-13 in 2018.
He joined the staff of the Panthers in 2022 and took over instead of Matt Rhulewho was fired after starting the season 1-4.
Wilks managed to put Carolina back in containment in the South Division from National Conference with a record of 6-6, but the Panthers they failed to advance to the playoffs after blowing an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter against Tampa Bay in Week 17.
Wilks was a candidate for full-time employment with Carolinabut the team opted for Frank Reich. Now Wilks will have the opportunity to work with one of the best defenses in the NFL in 2022 and hoping that this opportunity will lead him to become a head coach, as it did with The Ryans and its predecessor Robert Saleh.
The head coach of San Francisco, Kyle ShanahanI was looking for a coordinator who could keep defensive assistants and run a system similar to what was successful with The Ryans.
“I’m trying to get something where we don’t have to change a lot,” he said. Shanahan last week. “No matter which direction we decide to go, whether we bring in a new person or not, someone who can work with what we have and what we’ve accomplished here.”
Los Niners led the NFL in fewest points allowed (16.3 per game), yards allowed (300.6 per game) and tied for second in recoveries (30).
