Lower than 48 hours after firing Nick Sorensen as defensive coordinator, the 49ers have turned to somebody acquainted as a possible substitute.
The staff has interviewed former New York Jets coach Robert Saleh and present Lions defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend for the opening.
Primarily based on what coach Kyle Shanahan stated Wednesday, he’s simply getting began. One of many causes Sorensen was dismissed was the variety of high quality candidates accessible and Shanahan plans to take full benefit.
“I feel there are some options out there that can end up being a better option in the situation that we’re in for our team,” Shanahan stated. “And when really it comes down to that, in the position I’m in, regardless of anything else, that’s always the stuff I’ve got to go with.”
Saleh coordinated the 49ers’ protection below Shanahan from 2017-2020 earlier than being employed because the Jets’ head coach. His energetic presence introduced vibrancy to the 49ers’ sideline and enlivened the protection, which drove the 2019 staff to a Tremendous Bowl look and completed top-five in fewest yards allowed every of his final two seasons.
His run with the Jets was a lot much less profitable, as he by no means received greater than seven video games in a season, and the signing of quarterback Aaron Rodgers — plus his subsequent damage — turned up the already shiny lights within the New York media market. He was fired in October after beginning the season 2-3, and was 20-36 total as a head coach. Former 49ers linebacker Jeff Ulbrich — one other potential candidate — took over for him on an interim foundation and the staff sputtered to a 5-12 document.
Saleh signed on with the Packers in late October as a advisor. Inexperienced Bay performs on the Eagles Sunday within the wild-card spherical of the playoffs.
Whoever the 49ers rent, it is going to be their fourth defensive coordinator in 4 seasons after DeMeco Ryans, Steve Wilks and Sorensen. Ryans left to turn into head coach of the Houston Texans after two seasons operating the 49ers protection and beforehand serving as a high quality management coach and inside linebackers coach earlier than changing Saleh.
Wilks and Sorensen have been every fired after one season, though Sorensen is in play to stay on the 49ers employees, probably as a particular groups coach to exchange Brian Schneider. Schneider was fired after three years with the 49ers.
In his function as an offensive advisor for the Packers, Saleh described his function as “fluid” below head coach Matt LaFleur, with whom he first labored in 2008 on the Houston Texans employees that included Shanahan as offensive coordinator. Saleh was greatest man at LaFleur’s wedding ceremony, and presumably his rent with the Packers in a consulting job wasn’t going to preclude accepting one other job sooner or later.
Townsend is a former longtime Steelers cornerback who has managed secondaries throughout the NFL over the past decade. He has been a defensive backs coach for the Titans (2016-17), Giants (2018, assistant), Bears (2019-21), Jaguars (2022-23) and Lions (2024). The final two stops have included duties because the defensive passing sport coordinator.
Detroit allowed the bottom passer ranking (82.0) of any staff within the NFL this season.
Townsend was capable of interview regardless of Detroit’s placement within the playoffs as a result of the Lions earned a first-round bye by profitable the No. 1 seed within the NFC.
Apart from Ulbrich, who was sought by the 49ers a yr in the past however was blocked by the Jets, different candidates to exchange Sorensen may embrace Lou Anarumo, who was let go because the defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals, Patrick Graham of the Raiders, who’s free to barter with any staff.
Shanahan stated Brandon Staley, who was a defensive assistant final season who was a head coach with the Los Angeles Chargers and a defensive coordinator with the Rams, could be an in-house candidate.
By way of scheme, Shanahan stated he favored the scheme at the moment employed by the 49ers — one which Saleh ran from 2017 via 2020 — however was open to new concepts.
“I’m not saying you’ve got to change schemes, but you have to have the ability, the history and the knowledge of how to change some stuff up when you’re in certain situations,” Shanahan stated. “And I think we do need that more going forward.”
Workers author Jerry McDonald contributed to this story
Initially Printed: January 9, 2025 at 1:08 PM PST
