49ers star says ex-DC didn’t take his advice before Super Bowl loss

Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir had a standout 2023 season playing for the San Francisco 49ers in the slot.

Yet for some reason, former defensive coordinator Steve Wilks lined the 24-year-old CB up on the outside during San Francisco’s 25-22 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl — a bold change of pace that ultimately didn’t pay off.

Especially considering Lenoir told Wilks before the game he should keep him in the slot against the Chiefs.

“I talked to Wilks before the game and I was just telling them how I was feeling,” Lenoir said on “The Richard Sherman Podcast.” “I watch a lot of film, so I was just seeing where the ball was going. And I was like, ‘It's mainly between the hashes, it's going to the slots.’ They don't really got no dominant outside guy, so I was telling them I feel like I should be in the slot this game.”

Despite Lenoir’s insight, Wilks thought he knew better. (He was subsequently fired days after the loss.)

The 49ers’ secondary struggled to stop quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who threw for 333 yards and two touchdowns, as well as tight end Travis Kelce (nine receptions, 93 yards) and receiver Mecole Hardman, who scored the winning touchdown from the slot.

Kelce was primarily covered by linebackers and safeties, while Hardman scored the game-winner after lining up in the slot.

“I'd never question a coach, never question decisions or nothing,” Lenoir added. “That was the only time I came to them and I said that. They have [their] philosophy and what they felt worked, what was going to work and they made that decision. I was like alright ‘I'm going to just roll with it, and I'm going to try to do what I can to help us win.’”

For his part, Lenoir allowed five catches on seven targets for 36 yards, per Pro Football Focus . He surrendered just one first down and zero touchdowns.