San Francisco 49ers Fans Stunned After Coach Is Controversially Fired After Super Bowl Loss

The Super Bowl loss can’t be blamed on Wilks, even though his unit was responsible for giving up the game-winning touchdown drive to the Chiefs. The 49ers failed to hold on to a double-digit lead once again in the Super Bowl. Shanahan’s decision to take the ball first in overtime meant quarterback Patrick Mahomes had four downs to move on the 49ers’ defense every time they moved the chains.

If you had told bettors before the game that the 49ers would keep the Chiefs to 25 points in five quarters, most would have put money on San Francisco.

Still, there were more factors that contributed to Wilks’ demise. In the playoffs, Wilks’ defense allowed 25.7 points per game, as Vincent Pensabene of GH pointed out. The 49ers defense handed up the third-fewest points in the league during the regular season, so that was roughly eight points higher than what they allowed.

The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport clarified on Thursday that Shanahan did not make the 49ers’ decision to terminate Wilks on a whim. (Shanahan acknowledged that it wasn’t an easy choice to fire Wilks.) According to Rapoport, NFL insiders believed Wilks would be fired following the 49ers’ overtime use of a timeout due to a defensive blunder.

 

 

Dontay Atkinson with ReachNorth Media made a great point on X about Wilks being fired due to defensive communication:

It’s not that Steve Wilks was fired for being a lousy coach. The Super Bowl did not force him to lose his job. Given that he is black, he was not let free. Because he made a mistake, he was not released.

The defense’s front and back halves weren’t in sync, which is why he was fired. And this season, it was a lot like that. That cannot continue because this roster is too good.

Chemistry isn’t always right. It is not an evaluation of Wilks. He has a brilliant football mind. It simply didn’t work well with this software.

 

While there were problems with chemistry in crucial moments, not all of the issues can be blamed on Wilks. Wilks was in his first season as the 49ers defensive coordinator this season. He had to deal with many injuries to key players on defense.

Firing Wilks feels a little premature after a successful year.

49ers fans were polarized by Wilks being fired after making the Super Bowl. Here are the best takes on X Wilks’ firing.