After the surprise ousting of Steve Wilks, the 49ers will embark on a search for their next defensive coordinator. Whoever they hire will be the organization’s 4th defensive coordinator in 5 years. However, that is a little misleading as Robert Saleh and DeMeco Ryans weren’t fired, but promoted to head coach on other squads. Wilks is the first defensive coordinator that Kyle Shanahan has ever fired. This does come as a little bit of a surprise after Wilks’ defense was mostly a bright spot in Super Bowl 58.
However, a look closer at the overall season would tell anyone that this move probably would’ve happened even if the 49ers had won on Sunday. This is because Wilks just wasn’t the right fit in the Bay. Shanahan said as much at his conference call on Wednesday. Wilks’ heavy blitzing scheme didn’t fit with the 49ers’ proven defensive system. In fact, Shanahan himself had to step in to alter Wilks’ playcalling throughout the season and even put the veteran coach on blast postgame after a Week 7 game against the Minnesota Vikings.
The biggest dropoff for the 49ers’ defense in 2023 was their run defense. What used to be a unit that finished as the best rush defense in the NFL during the 2021 season turned into the #14 rush defense in yards per attempt. This was exposed in the playoffs when both Green Bay and Detroit gashed the 49ers for a lot of yards on the ground. Another reason for his firing was the lack of communication between the front and back end of the 49ers’ defense. There were too many miscommunications.
Potential Hires for the San Francisco 49ers DC Opening
1. Likely Hires
Brandon Staley
Staley has a strong connection to Rams Head Coach Sean McVay, who has a strong connection to Shanahan. He coordinated the Rams’ defense into becoming the #1 defense in the NFL in 2020 during Los Angeles’ Super Bowl run. However, Staley hasn’t had a top-20 defense since that year, and his Chargers defense finished #24 in points and #28 in yards allowed in 2023. Staley’s Vic Fangio-style defense might also fit what the 49ers are looking to do. However, he does run a 3-4 style defense while the 49ers have been running a 4-3 for Shanahan’s entire tenure.
Johnny Holland
Holland is San Francisco’s current linebackers coach, taking over for DeMeco Ryans in 2021. It’s worth noting that both Ryans and prior defensive coordinator Robert Saleh were linebackers coaches, meaning Shanahan has a documented history of preferring these position coaches. There is a very good chance that he will get promoted internally, as he has been with the team since Shanahan was hired as head coach and 2024 will be his 8th year.
Cory Undlin
Undlin is currently Houston‘s defensive passing game coordinator. He was a coach whom DeMeco Ryans took with him when he left San Francisco to take the head coaching job for the Houston Texans. Prior to this, he was the Lions’ defensive coordinator in 2020 and spent 2 seasons under Shanahan in San Francisco as a pass game specialist and secondary coach. This is a name that brings experience and knowledge of the system.
Daniel Bullocks
Bullocks is another internal name. He is still with the 49ers as their safeties coach and has been with the team since 2017. He was key in the development of All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga and rookie safety Ji’Ayir Brown who played a key role in filling in for Hufanga. Expect Shanahan to thoroughly interview him because he is an obvious internal candidate for the 49ers. A trusted coach who knows the system, just like Holland and Undlin.
Brendan Daly
Daly is currently the Kansas City Chiefs‘ linebackers coach. Although he has never been a defensive coordinator or play-caller, the 6-time Super Bowl champion could be a home run hire. Assuming he’d bring Steve Spagnuolo‘s aggressive defense with him, the 49ers would become a force to be reckoned with. Under Daly’s coaching the Chiefs have turned out many great young linebackers such as Willie Gay, Leo Chenal, Nick Bolton, and more. This isn’t a “hot” name, but it would be an amazing hire. Hiring a guy off the tree that just shut your offense down in the Super Bowl could be a master gambit by Shanahan.
2. Big-Name Candidates
Mike Vrabel
Vrabel needs no introduction. He was most recently the Tennesee Titans‘ head coach. His ability to make good defenses with limited talent is very valuable. However, he could be reluctant to take a coordinator job as he was such a great head coach. But make no mistake, the 49ers with Vrabel as their defensive coordinator could go back to being dominant defensively. Vrabel could also look to take a coordinator job for one season and hope to find a head coaching job next season.
Bill Belichick
This is virtually impossible. There is nearly no chance that the greatest head coach of all time would take a coordinator job this late in his career. Belichick might rather sit out the year and retire if he is offered no head coaching jobs in the future. However, just imagine. Imagine this possibility. Kyle Shanahan, one of the greatest offensive coaches ever running the offense. And Belichick, the greatest defensive coach ever, running the defense. A match made in heaven. Belichick could also help Shanahan with his Super Bowl struggles.
Final Thoughts
This will likely be an internal promotion for San Francisco. Shanahan looked outside the building with Wilks for the first time and it didn’t end well. However, if the 49ers do look outside the building, Kansas City’s Brendan Daly should be on top of their list granted Vrabel and Belichick both decline. Of course, it goes without saying that if Belichick or Vrabel are interested the search should end right there.
Based on history and Shanahan’s words in the conference that he fired Wilks, it’s most likely that the 49ers will hire someone who is already in the building. Further, Shanahan mentioned how Saleh and Ryans being former linebackers coaches helped the defensive communication. Taking all of this into account, the 49ers are most likely to promote linebackers coach Johnny Holland to defensive coordinator.
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