The Riverside Press-Enterprise
49ers fire DC in the wake of Super Bowl disappointment
The San Francisco 49ers have fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks three days after losing the Super Bowl to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Coach Kyle Shanahan announced the decision on Wednesday to move on after one season with Wilks in charge of the defense. Shanahan called it a “really tough decision” but said he wants to find a coordinator who was a better scheme fit for the talent on San Francisco’s defense.
“We felt pretty strongly that this was the decision that was best for our organization,” he said. “Even though it was one I didn’t want to make, it was something that once I realized that a different direction was what’s best for our organization, it’s something that I have to do.”
Shanahan hired Wilks after losing Demeco Ryans, who was hired as head coach in Houston after helping San Francisco field the top defense in the league in 2022.
Shanahan wanted to keep the same system that had been successful and Wilks had the difficult task of trying to add his own wrinkles to an unfamiliar scheme.
“That was the hardest part. I knew that was a challenge,” Shanahan said. “We have committed to not just a system, but the players that have been in the system from our D-line, our linebackers, they played in it for such a long time. It was my goal to not have to change all of them and bring in Steve who was unbelievable and how loyal he was and him trying to do it.
“But it just ended up not being the right fit. It hurt for me to do this but that’s exactly why I had to.”
The results were mixed during the regular season. Wilks was forced to move from the booth to the field following a three-game losing streak in October and San Francisco’s production on defense dropped marginally in the regular season.
But issues came up in the playoffs with the run defense getting gashed by Green Bay and Detroit in
the first two playoff games when coaches and players questioned the effort given. The Niners then came up short defensively down the stretch against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
After holding Kansas City to six points on the first nine possessions in the Super Bowl, the Niners allowed two touchdowns and two field goals on the final four drives to lose 25-22 in overtime.
Defensive end Nick Bosa said after the game that the team was unprepared for Mahomes to keep the ball on key runs that led to first downs on the game-winning drive.
• The Chiefs announced on social media that they have extended the contract of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo less than a week after earning his fourth Super Bowl ring. Terms were not announced.
Spagnuolo, 64, has been Kansas City’s defensive coordinator since 2019, and the Chiefs have won the Super Bowl in three of his five seasons. He also was the New York Giants’ defensive coordinator during their 2007 Super Bowl championship season.
• Notre Dame will face Army on Nov. 23 at Yankee Stadium as the Fighting Irish resume their Shamrock Series, a tradition in which they move a designated home game off campus.
This matchup marks the 100th anniversary of Notre Dame’s 13-7 upset of Army in New York that featured the Fighting Irish’s “Four Horsemen” backfield of Jim Crowley, Elmer Layden,
Don Miller and Harry Stuhldreher. That game took place on Oct. 18, 1924.
BASKETBALL Ionescu, Curry set for 3-point battle
She’s the player with the best 3-point contest performance in NBA or WNBA history. He’s made more 3-pointers than anyone who’s ever played at the highest level.
Sabrina Ionescu. Curry.
She’s one of his favorites and led the WNBA in 3-pointers made last season. He’s one of her idols and is the NBA’S all-time 3-point leader. And on Saturday night in Indianapolis at All-star weekend, they will go head-to-head in a 3-point contest — Steph vs. Sabrina, one that’s already got both of them amped up for a competition on a global stage like none other between NBA and WNBA stars.
“It’s going to be a great experience for us both,” Ionescu said.
Added Curry: “It’s an authentic competition between two great shooters.”
• Shaquille O’neal was Orlando’s first in lots of ways. First No. 1 overall draft pick. First player to make an All-star team in a Magic uniform. First rookie of the year. First ALL-NBA selection. And the first big-time superstar to leave the franchise.
It’s that last part that he figured might cost him.
O’neal never thought that the Magic would raise his jersey to the rafters of their arena. But he was wrong, and on Tuesday
Stephen
night, Orlando retired O’neal’s No. 32 — another first for the team and its first star. Most fans stayed for the postgame ceremony, even after the Magic fell to Oklahoma City.
“You know, there’s an old saying: Never forget where you come from,” O’neal said. “And my professional career started here. I’ve been living here mostly all my life. The fans have been hospitable. The people have been very, very hospitable. I never thought this day would happen.”
HOCKEY Ducks, Kings both blanked on the road
Ukko-pekka Luukkonen stopped 33 shots for his fourth career shutout and Jordan Greenway scored twice and added an assist to lead Buffalo to a 7-0 rout of the Kings on Tuesday night in Buffalo.
The Kings were flat and sloppy through most of an outing in which they provided little support for goalie David Rittich, who finished with 12 saves through two periods. He was replaced by Cam Talbot, who allowed two goals on seven shots.
• Nick Suzuki had two goals and an assist ads the Canadiens cruised to a 5-0 victory over the Ducks on Tuesday night in Montreal.
Cayden Primeau faced little action, making 13 saves in his first start since Jan. 20 as Montreal earned its first shutout of the season.
Lukas Dostal stopped 33 shots for the Ducks, who were shut out for the sixth time this season.
Indycar championship moving from Nashville
Indycar will move its September season-ending championship finale from the downtown streets of Nashville to the superspeedway in Lebanon because of construction surrounding the Tennessee Titans’ new stadium, organizers announced Wednesday.
The Indycar race, which in its fourth running was made the Sept. 15 season finale.