The San Francisco 49ers lost a great defensive coordinator in DeMeco Ryans as he accepted the head coaching job with the Houston Texans earlier in the week. Fortunately for them, they have an opportunity of replacing a great talent with a veteran, well-respected coach in Steve Wilks, Schuyler Callahan of SI.com reports. 

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Friday morning that the 49ers are set to interview Wilks for the defensive coordinator job.

Wilks took over as the Carolina Panthers interim head coach in early October after the team fired Matt Rhule following a 1-4 start to the season. It took a couple of weeks, but Wilks rallied the troops and helped guide Carolina to a 6-6 record, finishing second in the NFC South division. Wilks, somehow had the Panthers playing for a division title heading into its Week 17 matchup with Tampa Bay - a game they jumped out to a 14-0 lead in and led for the majority of the afternoon.

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