49ers 'In No Rush' to Hire DC to Replace Steve Wilks, GM John Lynch Says

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch suggested Thursday that he does not intend to hastily fill the team's defensive coordinator vacancy.

According to ESPN's Nick Wagoner, Lynch said: "We're in no rush. We kind of know who we are, who we're going to be, and that's not going to make a wholesale schematic change there. We feel good about where we're at."

Despite reaching Super Bowl LVIII last season and taking the Kansas City Chiefs to overtime in what was ultimately a 25-22 loss, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks earlier this month, ending his tenure with the team after just one year.

San Francisco hired Wilks last offseason after the previous DC, DeMeco Ryans, left to become head coach of the Houston Texans.

Wilks brought a wealth of experience with him, as the 54-year-old was previously a defensive coordinator with the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns. He also served as the Arizona Cardinals' head coach in 2018 and the Panthers' interim head coach in 2022.

With Wilks calling the defense, the Niners excelled in 2023, ranking eighth in the NFL in total defense and third in points allowed. They also tied for the league lead in interceptions and were tied for seventh in sacks.

The 49ers went 12-5 and earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC, reaching the NFC Championship Game for the third year in a row and the Super Bowl for the second time in the past five seasons.

San Francisco shut down quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense for much of the Super Bowl, holding them to three points in the first half, but a muffed punt set up Kansas City's first touchdown late in the third quarter and seemed to awaken the offense.

Per Wagoner, Shanahan acknowledged that while Wilks did well in his role, the decision to move on from him was made due to the difficulties of an outsider adapting to the 49ers' internal defensive system: "That was the hardest part. I knew that was a challenge. It was tough. ... Bringing in Steve, he was unbelievable and how loyal he was and him trying to do it, but it just ended up not being the right fit."

Thus far, the 49ers are known to have interviewed or set up interviews with four candidates for their defensive coordinator vacancy: former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley, Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt, 49ers defensive passing game specialist/nickel cornerbacks coach Nick Sorensen and 49ers defensive backs coach Daniel Bullocks.

Wagoner noted that two other coaches with 49ers ties could be on the organization's radar as well.

One of them is Texans linebackers coach Chris Kiffin, who was the Niners' pass-rush specialist from 2018 through 2019. The other is New York Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, who was a 49ers linebacker from 2000 through 2009 and is from San Jose, California.

Ulbrich could conceivably be the 49ers' preferred option due to his experience and roots within the 49ers organization, but they would need permission from the Jets to interview him.

Regardless of what choice Lynch and Shanahan make, the Niners figure to be Super Bowl contenders once again in 2024, as they are set to return most of their key players on both sides of the ball.