SANTA CLARA, Calif. – A few days after losing to the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The defense had been inconsistent in the first 14 games under coordinator Nick Sorensen. But the Dec. 12 game, in which they limited the Rams to 12 points and 4.6 yards per play, gave Bosa confidence in the development of the defense.
Bosa was so encouraged by the defensive progress that he suggested Sorensen and much of the defense would and should remain the same in 2025, even going so far as to say, “We have the right people as far as coaches and players.” regards.”
But after the 49ers' defense was relegated to 38.7 points and 404.3 yards per game and yielded no takeaways over the last three weeks, Bosa struck a different tone when asked about Sorensen.
“I think he’s a good coach,” Bosa said. “But it’s not my decision.”
In fact, that decision rested with coach Kyle Shanahan, who expressed his confidence in Sorensen multiple times throughout the season. But the defensive decline over the last three weeks made Shanahan ready to move on from Sorensen.
| 2023 (Wilks) | 2024 (Sorensen) | |
|---|---|---|
| PPG allowed | 17.5 (3rd in NFL) | 25.6 (29.) |
| Defensive efficiency | 61.6 (9th) | 47.32 (20.) |
| Defensive EPA | 41.48 (9th) | -57.71 (27th) |
| QBR allowed | 51.1 (9th) | 58.5 (26.) |
| Yards/rush | 4.1 (14.) | 4.4 (17.) |
| yards/game | 5.0 (7th) | 5.2 (7th) |
| yards/game | 303.9 (8th) | 317.4 (8th) |
| Efficiency in the red zone | 54.5% (16th) | 68.4% (31st) |
| Third down conversions | 40.9% (24th) | 43.1% (24th) |
| Takeaways | 28 (T-5.) | 17 (T-20.) |
Now the team is looking for its fourth defensive coordinator in as many years. Of the previous three, only DeMeco Ryans held the job for more than one season before becoming head coach of the Houston Texans. Steve Wilks was one and done after the 49ers reached the Super Bowl last season. Unlike Wilks, Shanahan would like to keep Sorensen in a different role.
According to Shanahan, the decision to move on was dependent on both the options available and the defense's performance in 2024. Unlike the last two years, when the Niners advanced deep into the playoffs and many of the potential top coordinators had already been hired elsewhere, this time they have the opportunity to hire nearly every option available.
“It was a really hard decision,” Shanahan said. “I love Nick as a person and I love him as a coach… But right where we are, really as a team, is where I think we need to go. There are many big decisions ahead of us. And “As hard as it is for me to come to this conclusion, I feel like there are some options that may ultimately be a better option for our team in the situation we find ourselves in.”
Shanahan is attracted by the fact that many candidates have professional experience. He turned to Sorensen because he was familiar with the 4-3 system preferred by Shanahan, but also had never been a defensive coordinator before.
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan has interviewed former New York Jets coach Robert Saleh for the open defensive coordinator position – a position Saleh held before coaching the Jets. Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
This year's candidates include coaches who check both boxes. This list is headed by Robert Saleh, who held the position of 49ers coordinator from 2017 to 2020 before becoming head coach of the New York Jets.
Saleh implements Shanahan's preferred scheme, knows the key defensive players still on the roster and has proven adept at changing defenses when injuries or other factors make it necessary. He applied for the job on Thursday and a reunion is possible, if not likely.
The complicating factor with Saleh is that he has head coaching interviews lined up with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders. If he emerges as the leading candidate for either job and the search drags out, it will be difficult for Shanahan and the Niners to wait to hire more coaches.
Jeff Ulbrich, who replaced Saleh as the Jets' interim coach and whom the Niners wanted to sign last year, could also be available depending on how things develop in New York. Ulbrich is a San Jose native who played linebacker for the 49ers for 10 years and also runs the scheme Shanahan prefers.
While Saleh and Ulbrich are considered top candidates, there's another name worth keeping an eye on: former New Orleans Saints coach Dennis Allen. Allen has extensive experience, working eight years as a defensive coordinator in Denver and New Orleans, nearly six seasons as a head coach with the Saints and Raiders, and another year as a senior defensive assistant for the Saints.
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Shanahan has long respected Allen, most recently evidenced by the plays Allen's defense gave Shanahan's offense in a November 2022 win in which the 49ers scored just 13 points on 4.7 yards per play against Allen's Saints.
New Orleans released Allen with eight games left this season, but he still has one year left on his contract, meaning he could take the year off to regroup while still getting paid if he wants.
But during an appearance on the “Unbreakable with Jay Glazer” podcast, Allen hinted that he will have opportunities to continue coaching and would likely pursue them. Allen has been linked to the Indianapolis Colts' vacant defensive coordinator position and is considered a possibility to become Ben Johnson's defensive coordinator should he accept a head coaching job somewhere. That means the Niners would have competition for Allen's services if they want to pursue him.
Brandon Staley, who joined the 49ers as assistant head coach last offseason, is the only known internal candidate. Shanahan said he plans to interview Staley again. Other well-known names who have experience and could draw interest include former Indianapolis Colts coordinator Gus Bradley, former Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham (if he becomes available). Deshea Townsend, defensive passing game coordinator for the Detroit Lions, has also already conducted an interview.
“I think having the experience of having been through this before and building things is definitely a bonus for me,” Shanahan said. “It helps me with some things… But again, you don't want to handcuff your decision. They will always try to find the best decision. So they have ideas that are being addressed. “But since I’m so early, I’ll also have a chance to talk to some people, so we’ll see where that takes us.”
One of the biggest questions in this search is whether Shanahan will deviate from the defensive principles he has favored since taking over in 2017. This includes strong zone coverage, rare blitz attacks and mostly four-man fronts.
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Since 2017, the 49ers have played zone coverage on 61.2% of opponent dropbacks, the highest rate in the league. Additionally, they posted the fifth-lowest percentage in the NFL (22.4%).
While Shanahan has stuck with that mold in recent coordinator searches, he's more open-minded this time around, which could open the door for someone like Staley, a Vic Fangio disciple who prefers a more diverse look, to apply for the job.
Most importantly, 2024's defensive woes have shown Shanahan that his next coordinator needs to have the ability to adapt when injuries or other issues arise.
“I love the plan we had here,” Shanahan said. “I think it's one of the hardest things when you have the right people in the right places… I'm not saying you have to change plans, but you have to have the ability and the history and the knowledge of how to get in can change some things in certain situations. And I think we will need this even more in the future.
