49ers could lose assistant to head coach role for a fourth straight year
The San Francisco 49ers are familiar with seeing their defensive coordinators leave for head coaching positions. Both Robert Saleh and DeMeco Ryans have parlayed impressive spells coaching the 49er defense into head coaching jobs, and Steve Wilks seemingly has a chance to join them in doing so. Wilks, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, is […]
The San Francisco 49ers are familiar with seeing their defensive coordinators leave for head coaching positions.
Both Robert Saleh and DeMeco Ryans have parlayed impressive spells coaching the 49er defense into head coaching jobs, and Steve Wilks seemingly has a chance to join them in doing so.
Wilks, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, is the subject of an interview request from Los Angeles Chargers.
If the Chargers hired Wilks, it would make it the fourth straight year in which the 49ers have had an assistant appointed as the head coach of another team. Saleh was hired by the New York Jets in 2021, Mike McDaniel by the Miami Dolphins in 2022 and Ryans by the Houston Texans in 2023.
The former Arizona Cardinals coach missed out on the Carolina Panthers job last year despite going 6-6 as their interim coach. He was duly hired to replace Ryans and has helped keep the 49er defense among the best in the NFL.
San Francisco finished fourth in the NFL by defensive DVOA. The 49ers finished third by points allowed and did an excellent job preventing explosive plays in the regular season.
Indeed, the 49ers allowed 39 runs of 10 yards or more, the fifth-fewest in the NFL and 45 passes of at least 20 yards, the eighth-fewest in the league.
Beyond that, Wilks has shown an ability to adapt, moving from the coaching booth to the sideline to better communicate with his defense to help arrest a three-game slide between Weeks 6 and 8 in which his unit had endured a drop-off in form.
Wilks has an excellent resume for a second shot at a head coaching job. Should he get one, it could leave the 49ers working against the clock to find a replacement if they make it all the way to a Super Bowl.
In that circumstance, an internal hire would appear to be the most likely outcome, with renowned defensive line coach Kris Kocurek and defensive backs coach Daniel Bullocks likely to be the lead in-house candidates.
There is a long way to go before the 49ers need to think seriously about such a decision, but they do need to be prepared to potentially lose another assistant.
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