The San Francisco 49ers made a significant change on Wednesday as head coach Kyle Shanahan relieved defensive coordinator Steve Wilks of his duties, meaning the 49ers will be looking for their fourth different candidate in five years as they conduct a search this offseason.
Wilks, a two-time head coach, including serving as the interim head coach with the Carolina Panthers in 2022, came to the 49ers as a respected leader with significant experience as a defensive coordinator, but ultimately became a poor choice for Shanahan and the 49ers, who are moving on after one year.