Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch are set to address questions about the future of defensive coordinator Steve Wilks and the Brandon Aiyuk deal in an end-of-season press conference. Shanahan expects all coaches to return but hasn't discussed specifics yet. Wilks' performance, especially in the Super Bowl, has been scrutinized, with opinions divided on his coaching abilities and fit with the team. Despite holding the Chiefs to 19 points in regulation during the Super Bowl, Wilks' late-game adjustments and overall defensive strategy have been criticized. The decision to fire Wilks has sparked debate among fans and analysts, with some viewing it as scapegoating and others questioning Shanahan's defensive priorities.
Steve Wilks didn’t deserve to be Kyle Shanahan’s Super Bowl scapegoat https://t.co/phQnoIZpt1
The decision to fire Steve Wilks quite possibly traces to the fact that Kyle Shanahan found himself worrying too much about the defense in 2023. https://t.co/5lu5CaCm4u
Preach. Clarence. Wilks got scapegoated because Shanahan once again flinched in the clutch. 👎👎 https://t.co/NFZxfs8rGo
Kawakami: 49ers’ scapegoat? Steve Wilks’ firing is a bad look, but the mistake was hiring an ill-fitting DC ⤵️ https://t.co/mKbt1CguP3
Shanahan firing Wilks is the definition of BUSH LEAGUE. Terrible look. #49ers
The response to Wilks' firing is a perfect example of narrative-driven analysis that looks only at the final game of the season. The 49ers defense took a significant step backward this year, and struggled in particular at the end of the season. It's not all about the Super Bowl. https://t.co/N9JdNFuh1O
The SF Steve Wilks firing doesn’t feel right to me. He was obviously doing a good job to get to the SuperBowl! There were more mistakes by the Offense than the Defense in that game. There’s no Defense on Earth that could have stopped Mahomes. I guess Shanahan can’t fire himself.
Steve Wilks has been done so wrong by this industry, man https://t.co/9qCLvqU1Yu
Steve Wilks is the scapegoat for the #49ers… The Niners defense played very well in the Super Bowl. Held Patrick Mahomes and the #Chiefs to under 20 points heading into OT. It wasn’t the defense’s fault that a punt was muffed, that CMC fumbled, and that the Niners couldn’t… https://t.co/ERhfIWKu4m
Steve Wilks' firing isn't a scapegoating as much as an admission that Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch made a mistake when they hired Wilks in the first place. https://t.co/NubEWYm6wf
Steve Wilks - One year as HC at Phoenix in 2018, fired (3-13) - 6-6 as interim coach at Carolina in 2022, doesn’t get permanent gig - One year as DC with 49ers, defense posts better numbers than it did under DeMeco Ryans in 2022. Ryans got Texans HC job. Wilks got fired today.
Kyle Shanahan on Steve Wilks: It just ended up not being the right fit https://t.co/K3zZ7n73l9
Steve Wilks can't catch a break https://t.co/OjE65IscA1
Steve Wilks has been done dirty in Arizona, Carolina and San Francisco
Steve Wilks has had a strange six years. The strangest outcome yet could be getting fired after holding the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes to 19 points in 60 minutes of Super Bowl play. https://t.co/dw9iKWPHNL
Steve Wilks kept Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs' offense out of the end zone for nearly three quarters --until a 49ers' special teams mistake gave KC the ball at the SF 16.
49ers' John Lynch hopes to sign Brandon Aiyuk to long-term deal. https://t.co/dMf67XSMzy https://t.co/kaeJPq8MFL
Shanahan had to burn a TO when Wilks went 5-across after the first time it failed. Shanahan was pissed. Played too soft on last drive of regulation and allowed Chiefs to march down the field to win SB. Not a surprise here. https://t.co/NACcsyojuI
Wilks had an awesome 3 quarters vs KC. Mahomes and the Chiefs were totally befuddled. First 9 drives, 6 points. Inability to tweak late and adapt - Mahomes is gonna figure it out, he’s too good - cost him his job. https://t.co/nTSfMJamO3
Wrote this yesterday about Wilks and the signs that he might not return as 49ers DC: https://t.co/0SkqaaPToa
#49ers held Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs to 19 points in regulation in Steve Wilks final game as DC, the 3rd fewest Chiefs have scored in 18 career playoff games with Mahomes
Steve Wilks outcoached Kyle Shanahan in the Super Bowl.
Scapegoat Steve Wilks https://t.co/vKLRltLoqt
Don’t think Kyle Shanahan was any more at fault for the 49ers loss than like, everyone else. Tough game! Very close! https://t.co/Qb0jetT1kY
Nick Bosa said the #49ers weren't prepared for the read option the Chiefs used on the game-winning drive. And Kyle Shanahan called a timeout in OT because he didn't like a Cover 0 call. It was an appropriate end to Steve Wilks' bumpy debut season. https://t.co/nnTKPmBOSN https://t.co/XXuS30TR92
COULD STEVE WILKS BECOME THE 49ERS SCAPEGOAT? NOW ON @undisputed
I think Wilks is a good DC and an upfront guy. But it just seems like the 49ers' defense is better suited to having a play-caller tied to the front 7, not the secondary. Wilks is a DBs guy. The chemistry is a bit off. https://t.co/N2tOxuzCwx
49ers HC Kyle Shanahan on if DC Steve Wilks will return for 2024 season: "I expect all our coaches to be back" https://t.co/EnTa0zar2t https://t.co/LCwdqsOhWr
Kyle Shanahan talks Brock Purdy, Steve Wilks as #49ers transition to offseason ... https://t.co/44Tni32Y8p
Final Super Bowl assessment: Niners were on the wrong side of some bad luck: punt that hit the up back, missed PAT, greenlaw fluke injury BUT when it mattered most Spags > Kyle Reid > Wilks Coaching can be the ultimate X factor #chiefs https://t.co/2LO6kyaBfq
Kyle Shanahan says he expects all his coaches back next year but hasn't spoken to them yet. A look at the job defensive coordinator Steve Wilks did this season and in the Super Bowl https://t.co/DNu6br9kfR
Asked if Steve Wilks will be back, Kyle Shanahan said that's something that will be discussed at a later date. He says he hasn't even watched the Super Bowl film yet.
#49ers Kyle Shanahan on DC Steve Wilks' future: We’ll talk about a ton as week goes and offseason, what want team to be, our defense, our special teams. That’s a lot of conversations. Salary cap, personnel, draft. Haven’t watched game yet, to tell you the truth.
Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch will hold their end-of-season press conference today. Steve Wilks? Brandon Aiyuk deal? There are a lot of questions to ask.