San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan polarized the fanbase this week when he fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks a few days after the team lost the Super Bowl to the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime.
Kyle Shanahan made a controversial firing
The Super Bowl loss can’t be blamed on Wilks, even though his unit was responsible for giving up the game-winning touchdown drive to the Chiefs. The 49ers failed to hold on to a double-digit lead once again in the Super Bowl. Shanahan’s decision to take the ball first in overtime meant quarterback Patrick Mahomes had four downs to move on the 49ers’ defense every time they moved the chains.
If you had told bettors before the game that the 49ers would keep the Chiefs to 25 points in five quarters, most would have put money on San Francisco.
However, there were other reasons for Wilks’ downfall. As Vincent Pensabene with GH noted, Wilks’ defense gave up 25.7 points per game in the playoffs. That was about eight points more than the 49ers’ defense allowed in the regular season when they gave up the third-least points in the league.
There was speculation about Steve Wilks during the Super Bowl
Ian Rapoport with the NFL Network explained Thursday that the 49ers’ decision to fire Wilks wasn’t an impulse decision by Shanahan. (Shanahan himself said the decision to fire Wilks wasn’t easy.) Rapoport said NFL insiders thought Wilks’ firing might happen after the 49ers used a timeout in overtime when there was miscommunication on defense.
This was the exact moment when Kyle Shanahan had seen enough of Steve Wilks pic.twitter.com/UAhdASPlZI
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) February 14, 2024
Dontay Atkinson with ReachNorth Media made a great point on X about Wilks being fired due to defensive communication:
Steve Wilks didn’t get let go because he’s a bad coach. He didn’t get let go because of the Super Bowl. He didn’t get let go because he’s black. He didn’t get let go because he screwed up.
He was let go because the front half of the defense wasn’t in synch with the back half. And it was like that frequently this season. This roster is too elite for that to continue.
Sometimes chemistry is just wrong. It’s not a judgment on Wilks. He’s an outstanding football mind. It just didn’t gel with this program.
Steve Wilks didn’t get let go because he’s a bad coach. He didn’t get let go because of the Super Bowl. He didn’t get let go because he’s black. He didn’t get let go because he screwed up.
He was let go because the front half of the defense wasn’t in synch with the back half.…
— Dontay Atkinson (@DonAtkinsonNFL) February 15, 2024
While there were problems with chemistry in crucial moments, not all of the issues can be blamed on Wilks. Wilks was in his first season as the 49ers defensive coordinator this season. He had to deal with many injuries to key players on defense.
Firing Wilks feels a little premature after a successful year.
San Francisco 49ers fans react to Wilks being fired
49ers fans were polarized by Wilks being fired after making the Super Bowl. Here are the best takes on X Wilks’ firing.
If Steve wilks wasn’t the DC this would’ve been a touchdown . Glad they fired him 💯 pic.twitter.com/5VuShSNYjF
— LilRocketNasa🚀 (@lilrocketnasa) February 14, 2024
Whatever I thought of Kyle Shanahan, I think even less after Steve Wilks came up ONE stop from winning the Super Bowl. He lost 2 starters in the game. Genius Shanahan needed to score a TD in OT & folded like a cheap lawn chair. I wish continued misery to Cpt. Flat Bill Cap! pic.twitter.com/R7rYyqyUKJ
— Gridiron Assassin (@GridAssassin) February 14, 2024
Kyle Shanahan resume
– Went from Jimmy G to Purdy
– Blown a 25 point lead in a SB
– Blown a 10 point lead in a SB
– Blown a 10 point lead in a SB again
– Didn’t inform his team that OT rules had changed… two years ago
– Team culture of crybabiesBut sure it’s on Steve Wilks.
— Yeah Bo!, MBA 👾 (@Cambostotle) February 14, 2024
Definitely wasn’t his fault. The OFFENSE didn’t show up.
— Rev. Damien Jones aka Clarence Thomas’ play nephew (@NobleNegroe) February 14, 2024
this was where the Super Bowl was won and lost. Against an inexperienced QB, Spags sent an extremely well-disguised blitz on a 3rd and short. Steve Wilks called a blitz that a pre-teen could have diagnosed & the Chiefs ran an obvious stick / cross play. pic.twitter.com/KBjkHkwwHy
— Matt Brownsword (@br0wnsw0rd) February 12, 2024
Someone should ask Kyle Shanahan if he would have fired Steve Wilks had the Niners won the Super Bowl, because I’m highly confident the answer is yes.
— Alex Sherman (@sherman4949) February 16, 2024
Kyle Shanahan to Steve Wilks: pic.twitter.com/HcERzpVzvw
— College Sports Only (@CollegeSportsO) February 14, 2024
yes lets scapegoat the DC when the head coach has blown 3 double digit leads in Super Bowls in his last 3 times there
— OMiT Brian (@BrianViiox) February 14, 2024
For More Football News:
Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at jordanmsigler@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in college and NFL news, click here!