According to Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Los Angeles Chargers are seeking permission to interview San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks for their head coaching vacancy.
The #Chargers are requesting to interview #49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks for their vacant head coaching job, sources tell me and @RapSheet. Wilks' Niners defense was third in points allowed, eighth in yards this season after he went 6-6 as #Panthers interim HC.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 8, 2024
Wilks is in his first season with the 49ers, assuming the defensive coordinator role after DeMeco Ryans departed to become the Houston Texans' head coach. The defensive unit under Wilks finished the regular season ranked eighth in yards allowed, third in points allowed, third in rushing yards allowed, and 14th in passing yards allowed.
The 54-year-old coach began his NFL coaching career as a defensive backs coach with the Chicago Bears in 2006. Later, he served in the same capacity with the then-San Diego Chargers (2009-11) before joining the Carolina Panthers in 2012. He progressively climbed the ranks, becoming Carolina's assistant head coach and defensive backs coach in 2015, and later, assistant head coach and defensive coordinator in 2017.
In 2018, Wilks assumed the role of head coach for the Arizona Cardinals for one season, followed by one-year stints as defensive coordinator with the Cleveland Browns (2019) and the University of Missouri (2021). He then rejoined the Panthers in 2022 as their defensive passing game coordinator and secondary coach.
Last season, Wilks stepped in as Carolina's interim head coach following the firing of head coach Matt Rhule. The 49ers brought him on board in February 2023 as their defensive coordinator after the Panthers chose Frank Reich as their next head coach.
If Wilks accepts a head-coaching job this offseason, he will become the fourth 49ers coordinator to depart in as many years (Ryans - 2023, Mike McDaniel - 2022, Robert Saleh - 2021).