49ers Fire Former Cardinals Coach

Former Arizona Cardinals coach Steve Wilks has been fired from the San Francisco 49ers.

ARIZONA -- Former Arizona Cardinals coach Steve Wilks has been relieved of his duties as San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan who shared the news with reporters on a conference call.

A change in San Francisco: Steve Wilks is out as the 49ers defensive coordinator. pic.twitter.com/atNB1ConXy

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 14, 2024

Wilks was brought on the replace DeMeco Ryans, who took the head coach opening with the Houston Texans last offseason. 

The news comes just hours after Shanahan said he expected all of his coaches to be back on staff in 2024.

"I haven't talked to anybody yet," said Shanahan earlier this morning. "So yeah, I expect all our coaches to be back."

The 49ers defense ultimately held up well against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII until the late stages, where the 49ers allowed back to back scoring drives near the end of regulation and overtime where KC ultimately won the game with a touchdown.

Wilks first got into the league as the defensive backs coach for the Chicago Bears in 2006. He landed as Arizona's head coach in 2018 but lasted just one season after going 3-13. The Cardinals hired Kliff Kingsbury shortly after. 

Wilks served as the interim head coach for the Carolina Panthers in 2022, leading the team to a 6-6 record after taking over. The Panthers ultimately hired Frank Reich, who they fired this season.