Steve Wilks goes into his first season as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator with quite a challenge.
Replacing DeMeco Ryans and keeping San Francisco’s defense among the NFL’s elite will be no mean feat. Top-level performance can be difficult for any defense to maintain year-on-year and, though the 49ers possess a tremendously talented unit, the transition from an in-house coach to one coming from outside the building may make it even tougher for the Niners in 2023.
Yet, there is one specific area where Wilks can be viewed as an upgrade on his predecessor. Wilks is an experienced and highly respected coach of defensive backs, one renowned for his meticulous nature and success in developing players in the secondary.