The 49ers hired Wilks, forced him to run the Wide 9 system, and then assigned him a group of defensive ends who had little interest in setting the edge or defending the run, including Nick Bosa.
The 49ers were compelled to terminate Steve Wilks because he underperformed despite having outstanding defensive personnel.
Is that true? Were the 49ers correct in firing Wilks?
It is true that the defense worsened slightly under Wilks in 2023. When DeMeco Ryans was the defensive coordinator in 2022, the 49ers defense ranked first in the NFL, allowing only 16.3 points per game. Outstanding.
Under Wilks, the 49ers defense ranked No. 3 in the NFL and gave up 17.5 points per game. Which means Wilks got fired for giving up just one point per game more than Ryans. Ridiculous.
The 49ers’ issue on defense wasn’t Wilks or his scheme or his play calling. When the 49ers defense played poorly, which wasn’t often, its issue was effort. The players didn’t play their hardest, even in the NFC freaking Championship game. That’s on the players. At a certain point, veterans such as Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, Javon Hargrave and Fred Warner shouldn’t need a coach to motivate them to play hard. They’re paid to play hard. That’s expected of them.
And when those players did play hard, like in the Super Bowl, Wilks was outstanding, considering he held the Chiefs to 19 points through four quarters. When Ryans faced the Chiefs in 2022, he gave up 44 points in four quarters. Wilks was better against Kansas City.
The 49ers hired Wilks, forced him to run the Wide 9 defense and then gave him a bunch of defensive ends that had no interest in setting the edge or defending the run, and that includes Nick Bosa.
Wilks did not deserve to get fired. He deserved so much better.
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