With the 49ers’ 2025 season now in the rearview mirror, the focus in San Francisco has quickly shifted to a familiar off-field challenge: finding a new defensive coordinator. For the second straight offseason, Kyle Shanahan and his staff are back in the market after Robert Saleh was named head coach of the Tennessee Titans.
Reuniting with Saleh last year was a logical move - a reunion built on past success and mutual trust. But now, with Saleh moving on once again, the Niners find themselves at a crossroads.
The next hire will be pivotal, and the margin for error is slim. Miss, and they risk repeating the inconsistency they saw with Nick Sorensen.
Hit, and they could reload a defense that’s still built to contend.
Enter Richard Sherman, who’s never shy about weighing in on his former team - and this time, he’s got a name in mind: Jim Schwartz.
On his podcast, Sherman laid out why he believes Schwartz would be a home run hire for San Francisco. “I think they're going to go with an established coordinator,” Sherman said.
“They tried to go with hiring from within with Nick Sorensen last time and just didn’t feel right about how things ended up. Great man, great coach - just didn’t work out how they needed it to.”
Sherman’s not wrong. Sorensen stepped into a tough spot and did what he could, but the defense lacked the same edge and consistency that’s defined the best 49ers units under Shanahan. That’s why Sherman believes the Niners will swing big this time - and Schwartz, in his eyes, is the kind of proven veteran who could bring immediate credibility and results.
“If Jim Schwartz doesn’t get the job with the Cleveland Browns,” Sherman continued, “I’m sure Kyle Shanahan is going to throw everything, including the kitchen sink, at him to try to get him in San Francisco. That would be a home run and an absolute grand slam hit.”
That’s high praise from a guy who knows a thing or two about elite defenses. And it’s not just talk - Schwartz has the résumé to back it up.
He’s been coaching defense in the NFL longer than many of the Niners’ current players have been alive. He helped popularize the Wide-9 front, which emphasizes speed off the edge and aggressive gap control.
He’s led multiple top-10 defenses. And, of course, he coordinated the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning defense in 2018 - a unit that harassed Tom Brady all night and came up with the game’s biggest stop when it mattered most.
Now, Schwartz’s scheme isn’t a carbon copy of what Shanahan has typically leaned on in San Francisco. There would be an adjustment period. But if the goal is to bring in a defensive mind who can command a room, develop talent, and scheme with the best of them - Schwartz checks every box.
Still, Sherman didn’t stop there. If Schwartz ends up staying in Cleveland, he believes Raheem Morris could be another strong option.
Morris, who’s been in the mix for multiple coaching jobs in recent years, is another name with deep experience and a reputation for connecting with players. “Those are some of the names that I know they’re interested in,” Sherman added.
“But you just never know how it’s going to shake out. There’s so many openings, so many things still to be determined.”
And that’s the reality of the current NFL landscape. With coaching changes happening across the league, the 49ers are one of several teams trying to secure a top-tier defensive leader. Timing, availability, and fit will all play a role.
But one thing is clear: San Francisco can’t afford to miss on this hire. With a championship-caliber roster still in place, especially on the defensive side of the ball, the right coordinator could be the difference between another deep playoff run and another offseason full of what-ifs.
Richard Sherman on the 49ers open defensive coordinator position:
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) January 21, 2026
“If Jim Schwartz doesn’t get the job with the Browns, I’m sure Kyle Shanahan is gonna throw everything including the kitchen sink at him to try and get him in San Francisco. That would be an absolute home run… If… pic.twitter.com/zZiVqi6zju
For Shanahan and the 49ers, this isn’t just a staff decision - it’s a defining moment.