Kyle Shanahan explains why he fired San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.
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00:00 Hey guys, I just want to get you guys back together. I know we got together yesterday, but there's a couple things yesterday that
00:07 Wasn't ready to talk about yet because I wasn't sure which direction I was going to go but
00:12 sleeping on this for a few nights, and I'm trying to make come up with a few tough decisions, but this morning I
00:18 Relieve Steve Wilkes of his duties
00:22 Gonna end up making a change here a defensive coordinator and I'm really tough decision because
00:29 Really um says nothing about Steve as a man or as a football coach
00:32 I mean, he's exactly what we wanted as a man. He is a great football coach
00:37 But just where we're going where we're at with our team from a scheme standpoint and things like that
00:43 Looking through it all throughout the year through these last few days
00:47 Felt pretty strongly that this was a decision that was best for organization and even though it was one I didn't want to make
00:54 It was something that
00:57 Once I realized that I think of different directions what's best for organization and then it's something that I have to do
01:02 So I let him know this morning and I know I wasn't able to let you guys know yesterday because I wasn't sure about it yesterday
01:09 but I am now and
01:11 That's the case and want to let you guys know firsthand. So I'll open up for questions now
01:16 Child does this have to do with just kind of you know him coming in from outside the building and not being familiar with the
01:25 system
01:26 That you guys had run successfully for so many years before this
01:30 Yes, I mean that that was the hardest part and I knew that was a challenge, you know, it was tough
01:35 It was real tough losing
01:37 D'Amico is tough losing solid the year before and but um, you know
01:41 We had committed to not just this system, but the players that had been in the system from our D line or linebackers
01:46 They had played in it for such a long time. So it was it was my goal to not have to change all of them and
01:54 Bring it in Steve who was unbelievable and how loyal he was and him trying to do it
01:59 and but it just ended up not being the right fit and
02:03 like I
02:05 You know it hurt for me to do this, but that's exactly why I had to
02:09 So now do you look inside the building or do you look for people familiar with that system outside the building?
02:15 We'll do both
02:18 Got some good coaches in here and definitely I'm going to look out outside also
02:22 So there's a number of things I got to do for the interview process
02:25 But um, you know, I had to get this I had to you know, this wasn't an easy decision
02:29 so it's something that I had to really put a lot of time into and
02:32 Now that and have that conversation with Steve this morning, which now that's taken care of and now I'll start working on
02:40 Interview process and things like that trying to find who's best for our group
02:49 He was the first guy that you had as a coordinator that was had kind of a different background working with DB's and things like
02:54 That do you think there was some sort of disconnect?
02:56 They're not having you know a guy with a linebacker who kind of connect the front and the back
02:59 Well there was that part of the issue here
03:01 Yes, I think it was I don't think that just is solely because his background DB's
03:07 I just think it you know it has to do with you know
03:10 The way we play linebacker
03:11 And stuff like that and the way that you know Fred and Trey have done it here over the years and the way we've coached
03:16 It and I mean there's the there's no one way to do things
03:19 But you want to tie things together and he was always working to do that now
03:24 There's no doubt about that
03:25 But it was just for his background and how it ended up with us
03:29 it was just it was it was harder than it need to be and I
03:32 Felt it would improve us
03:35 going a different direction
03:37 Now have you ever broached?
03:39 Being a defensive coordinator with Chris Kisarik or Johnny Holland either of those two guys
03:45 Uh yes, yep, I've been around those guys for a while so talk about a lot of things
03:49 Hey, what's the feedback Ben from Kisarik?
03:53 Is he happy being a defensive line coach or is that something that he's interested in being being a DC?
03:59 I mean, I think it's always a possibility for him, but I know
04:04 What Chris majors in I know what he loves to do his passion is D line
04:08 He doesn't go outside of that a lot
04:12 But Chris is a hell of a coach and he's capable of doing a lot
04:16 a couple more guys
04:19 Well, you want to go look at what is Daniel Bullock's someone you consider for the job
04:31 I'm gonna talk to all these guys. I haven't really talked
04:36 I just did this with Steve about an hour an hour ago and someone got a chance to meet with all these guys
04:41 But all of them will have a chance. I'm not going to specify anyone in particular this early
04:46 But the DV's done a great job for us here over the years and he's a coach that I have a lot of respect for
04:52 Are you committed to the system that you've been running or would you consider bringing in a?
04:58 defensive coordinator who comes in with his own system
05:02 I'm committed to trying with a situation
05:07 we're in trying to find what we believe will give the Niners the best chance in 2024 and
05:12 When you have a group of guys who have played at a high level doing certain things a specific way for a while. I
05:19 Do feel that's the best thing to do for them
05:22 But if I find something that I should believe in and I could be sold on that could be a better Avenue
05:27 I would never hesitate to do that. So I'm not closed-minded in any way
05:31 look in every possibility, but you know when you have some good players who have played at a high level and
05:37 Done it a certain way
05:40 I'm not just trying to change that, you know
05:43 I lean towards trying to keep them doing similar stuff that they've been very good at that's got us very far
05:47 but I have to make sure that I
05:49 find the right person who's capable of leading our group in that way that the standard of how we have done it and
05:55 Now the belief that will continue to get better at it
05:59 I believe in with whoever I choose to do this for us
06:02 Have you had a chance to talk to any of the players before talking to us
06:08 No, I mean I've talked to a number of the players just and I got pretty good relationships with them overall
06:15 But no, they're not in the building. So it's not like I could call them and let them know here
06:19 I wanted to make sure that you know, things have a way of getting out
06:22 So I just wanted to make sure that I got it out to you guys before
06:25 It came out some random way
06:28 Kyle
06:29 personality wise because the Nico Ryan's and Robert's holler were obviously very energetic on the sidelines
06:33 I don't know, you know that had anything to do with your decision
06:36 That has nothing to do with my decision watch solid now. He's not that energetic
06:41 that's
06:44 Now that energetic on the sidelines has absolutely nothing to do with coaching. All right guys
06:49 But one last thing Tyler there's reports about some of your other coaches going to their opportunities
06:56 Can you can you just kind of confirm which coaches?
06:59 In fact, we'll be leaving to take other jobs
07:03 Yeah, James Krager got the online job with the Raiders
07:07 All these are confirmed right tap
07:10 Tap came out today. I think I read I'm so full both on there. So yeah, yeah, Darryl tap the line coach at Washington
07:20 And Anthony Lynn is going to be run game coordinator Washington and I believe already talked about Clint Kubiak
07:27 Great thank you. All right guys. All right guys. Thanks
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