IRLZ44N MOSFET Overheat and Fail in 12V Motor Control Circuit?

I’m using the IRLZ44N N-channel MOSFET in my 12V DC motor switching circuit. The MOSFET is supposed to handle up to 47A and has a maximum V_DS of 55V, which fits my application. However, during operation, it overheats quickly and sometimes fails after running for only a few minutes.

I’ve double-checked the gate voltage and the wiring, but the problem persists. The MOSFET is mounted on a small heatsink, but I’m not sure if the thermal dissipation is adequate. Also, the PCB traces are about 1mm wide. Could the issue be related to insufficient gate drive current, poor thermal management, or maybe the layout causing excessive resistance?

Has anyone had advice on proper gate driving, heatsinking, or PCB design to ensure reliable operation?