Just a few days after losing the Super Bowl to Kansas City, the San Francisco 49ers took a bold and some would say questionable step by firing defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.
It has opened up the opportunity for them to make a big splash, if they would think outside the box and if a couple of individuals would accept the role.
Peter King of NBC Sports said according to 95.7 The Game that Pete Carroll would be an “interesting” candidate for San Francisco’s defensive coordinator position.
“An interesting candidate [for 49ers’ DC] would be Pete Carroll. It’s a defense he’s extraordinarily familiar with… I wouldn’t be shocked if Kyle picked up the phone and asked Belichick and Carroll if this is something they’d be interested in.”
Most know Carroll as the longtime head coach of the Seattle Seahawks who guided them to the world championship a decade ago.
Back then, the Seahawks had a heated rivalry with the 49ers, and that season, they narrowly got past San Francisco in the NFC Championship Game thanks to a late interception was forced by star cornerback Richard Sherman.
But Carroll was also the 49ers’ defensive coordinator in 1995 and 1996, and he is also a native of the Bay Area who started his coaching career at the University of the Pacific in the 1970s.
He left the Seahawks last month after being their head coach for 14 seasons, and even though he’s in his early 70s, he still seems to have plenty of energy.
The Niners need a defensive coordinator who not only excels at strategy but also leadership and galvanizing his men, much like DeMeco Ryans did when he held that role in 2021 and 2022.
In 2022, they were the NFL’s best defensive team, but there was some slippage this season, and it especially became evident throughout the playoffs.
