The San Francisco 49ers suffered a heartbreaking loss in overtime to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in Super Bowl III. The Niners’ defense allowed a touchdown in overtime, resulting in a 22-25 loss.
Less than 72 hours after the game, head coach Kyle Shanahan made the decision to make the change. Shanahan announced that first-year defensive coordinator Steve Wilkes was relieved of his duties Wednesday.
“This morning, I relieved Steve Wilkes,” Shanahan said on a conference call.
”[We’re] Ultimately, they will likely change defensive coordinators. It was a really difficult decision because [it] It says nothing about Steve as a person or as a football coach. So he’s exactly what we wanted in a man. He’s a great football coach. ”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilkes enters the field during team entrance before Super Bowl III vs. the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ryan Kang/Getty Images)
Shanhan suggested that the 49ers’ defense needs a change in philosophy and that bringing in a new coordinator is ultimately best for the team moving forward.
“But looking back at where we’re going from a planning standpoint, where our team is, looking back at the last few days throughout the year, I felt very strongly that this was a definitive decision. ” is best for the organization. ”
Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch discuss ball receiving decision in Super Bowl 5 overtime
Earlier this week, Shanahan largely avoided directly answering questions about whether Wilkes would remain for season two. Instead, he made a blanket statement about the coaching staff.
“I haven’t talked to anyone yet,” he said in response to a follow-up question about Wilks’ future as the Niners’ defensive coordinator. “Yes, I expect all of our coaches to return.”
Wilkes was presumably included in that group of coaches, but by Wednesday Shanahan had come to the conclusion that he needed to go in a “different direction.”
San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilkes stands on the sideline during a game against the Los Angeles Rams on January 7, 2024 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. (Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
The 49ers’ roster is full of defensive stars, which likely means Wilkes takes over a job that will require him to live up to high expectations.
After a mostly dominant 2022 season under head coach DeMeco Ryans, the Niners had some ups and downs in 2023. Lyons left San Francisco in January 2023 to take the head coaching job with the Texans. Despite this, the 49ers finished in the top three in points allowed last season.
Wilkes’ teams had some disappointing moments during the postseason, especially when it came to run defense. The Packers, Lions, and Chiefs are averaging 5.1 yards per carry in playoff games against the Niners. Mr. Shanahan has taken some ownership of some issues and acknowledged that he wants Mr. Wilkes to execute the same plan that Mr. Lyons and Robert Saleh did previously.
San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilkes stands with his defensive linemen on the sideline during a game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on Dec. 17, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. (Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
“I knew it was going to be a challenge,” Shanahan admitted. “It was really hard to lose DeMeco. It was really hard to lose Saleh the year before. We’ve worked hard not just on the system, but the players that were in the system, like the D-line and the linebackers. Those guys. has been playing in that system for a long time.”A very long time.
“My goal was to not have to change everything and have Steve on board who is incredibly loyal and he was trying to make that happen, but in the end it just wasn’t right for me. It was painful.” I had to do it, but that’s exactly why I had to do it. ”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Shanahan hopes the next coordinator is already familiar with the scheme and has a knack for blending the defense and secondary.
“People want to connect things, and Steve was always striving for that,” Shanahan said. “There’s no question about that. But it was just his career and how it ended for us. It was more difficult than it needed to be. And that’s why we We felt it would improve going in a different direction.”
Follow Fox News Digital X sports broadcast and subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
