49ers Rumors: Steve Wilks Eyed for DC Interview After DeMeco Ryans Hired by Texans

The San Francisco 49ers have requested permission to speak with former Carolina Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks for their defensive coordinator position, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

The news dropped shortly before ESPN's Adam Schefter broke word that ex-49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans reached an agreement to become the Houston Texans' next head coach.

Ryans, who was a star linebacker for the Texans and Philadelphia Eagles from 2006 to 2015, had been the 49ers' defensive coordinator for the past two seasons.

Wilks took over an unenviable position in Carolina, which fired head coach Matt Rhule after a 1-4 start and soon after traded star running back Christian McCaffrey to San Francisco.

The Panthers finished the year 6-6 under Wilks despite uncertainty at quarterback, with three different starters (Baker Mayfield, P.J. Walker, Sam Darnold) taking snaps.

Wilks interviewed for the full-time Panthers' head coaching job, but Carolina agreed to terms with ex-Indianapolis Colts head coach (and former Panthers quarterback) Frank Reich for the position.

The 49ers just finished the season with the best scoring defense in football thanks largely to tremendous talents such as as potential Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa and All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner.

Adding an experienced coach in Wilks could help keep the 49ers' success going.

The 53-year-old Wilks has been coaching college and pros since 1995 save for one season (2020). His notable stops include Carolina, where he was the defensive backs coach (2012-16), assistant head coach (2015-17) and defensive coordinator (2017).

He left to become the Arizona Cardinals' head coach in 2018 but was fired after just one season in which he went 3-13. Wilks served as the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns (2019) and University of Missouri (2021) before heading back to Carolina as its defensive passing game coordinator and secondary coach.

In addition to Wilks, the 49ers are interviewing Tennessee Titans defensive passing game coordinator Chris Harris, per Schefter. Harris just joined the Titans after coaching the Washington Commanders' defensive backs in 2022.