The San Francisco 49ers made the daring and, some would argue, dubious decision to fire defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, just a few days after losing the Super Bowl to the Kansas City Chiefs by the narrowest of margins.
If they were to think creatively and a few people were willing to take on the role, it has given them the chance to make a significant impact.
Pete Carroll would be a “interesting” candidate for San Francisco’s defensive coordinator position, according to Peter King of NBC Sports, as reported by 95.7 The Game.
Carroll is most remembered for being the longtime head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, who led the team to a world championship ten years prior.
The Seahawks and 49ers had a bitter rivalry back then. The Seahawks narrowly defeated San Francisco in the NFC Championship Game that year, thanks to a last-minute interception forced by star cornerback Richard Sherman.
Carroll, however, is a native of the Bay Area who began his coaching career at the University of the Pacific in the 1970s. He was also the 49ers’ defensive coordinator in 1995 and 1996.
Despite being their head coach for 14 seasons, he left the Seahawks last month, and despite being in his early 70s, he still seemed to be full of energy.
Like DeMeco Ryans did in 2021 and 2022, the Niners need a defensive coordinator who is adept at leadership and inspiring his team in addition to strategy.
They were the NFL’s top defensive unit in 2022, but this season they showed signs of weakness, which was particularly noticeable during the postseason.
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A longtime NFL writer for The Athletic, Tim Kawakami, tweeted that he has heard they are going to choose their next defensive coordinator.
In 2023, Wilks was a rookie defensive coordinator for San Francisco.
Despite having a formidable pass rush and being the best team in the NFL in 2022, the Niners’ defense this season lacked something.
They struggled to stop the run during the playoffs, and their pass rush appeared to be absent from the game.
The Niners failed to contain Patrick Mahomes when it counted most. He even ran the ball himself on a crucial fourth down in overtime, and after keeping him in check before halftime, star tight end Travis Kelce was able to score freely in the second half.
Although it appears highly unlikely for a number of reasons, some fans are hoping that Bill Belichick, the longtime head coach of the New England Patriots, will take on the role of defensive coordinator for the Niners.
