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Steve Wilks' road back: Inside 49ers DC's path to Super Bowl

Related Topics: Steve Wilks, Lovie Smith, Ron Rivera

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SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Wearing his best suit, Steve Wilks arrived for his first NFL coaching opportunity dressed to impress. It didn't last long.

Interviewing with then Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith and defensive coordinator Ron Rivera in early 2006 after 11 years coaching in the college ranks, Wilks made it about halfway through the conversation before his football passion took over.

After Smith asked Wilks a fairly innocuous question about a weakness in the Bears' trademark Cover-2 zone defense, Wilks removed his coat, loosened his tie and rolled up his sleeves.