SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Kyle Shanahan's decision to bring in an outsider to run the San Francisco 49ers defense backfired last season when the previously dominant unit took a step back in 2023 under Steve Wilks.
The Niners still ended up making it to the Super Bowl but lost to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs when San Francisco gave up four straight scoring drives to finish a 25-22 overtime loss.
That led to an immediate change with Shanahan firing Wilks after just one season and promoting Nick Sorensen, who had spent the previous two seasons as an assistant in San Francisco and knows the style of defense that fits the Niners roster.