The San Francisco 49ers are once again in the market for a new defensive coordinator-making it five DCs in five seasons. The latest departure?
Robert Saleh, who’s headed to Nashville to take over as head coach of the Tennessee Titans. That marks the end of his second stint with the Niners and continues a trend that’s become all too familiar for one of the NFL’s most consistently competitive franchises.
Let’s take a quick trip down memory lane. The 49ers had DeMeco Ryans running the defense in 2021 and 2022, and he parlayed that success into a head coaching gig with the Houston Texans.
Then came Steve Wilks, who lasted just a season. Nick Sorensen followed, also for just one year, before the team brought back Saleh in 2025 after his head coaching run with the Jets came to an end.
Now, with Saleh moving on again, the Niners are back at square one.
The search is already underway, and three names have emerged as serious candidates: Raheem Morris, Joe Woods, and Gus Bradley. Each brings a different flavor of experience to the table, and all have deep defensive pedigrees.
Raheem Morris is fresh off a two-year run as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, where he posted back-to-back 8-9 seasons. Before that, he served as defensive coordinator for the Falcons in 2020 and then helped lead the Rams’ defense from 2021 to 2023. Morris is known for his energy, adaptability, and ability to connect with players-traits that could resonate in a locker room full of veterans and young talent alike.
Joe Woods has been around the block, too. He’s held DC roles in Denver (2017-18), Cleveland (2020-22), and most recently New Orleans (2023-24).
In 2025, he joined the Raiders as their pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach. Woods is respected for his work with secondaries and could be a strong fit for a 49ers defense that leans on its back end to complement a ferocious front seven.
Then there’s Gus Bradley, a name well-known in NFL circles. Bradley helped build the Legion of Boom in Seattle as DC from 2009 to 2012, then went on to head coach the Jaguars from 2013 to 2016.
His head coaching record (14-48) wasn’t stellar, but his defensive chops have never been in question. Since then, he’s served as defensive coordinator for the Chargers (2017-20), Raiders (2021), and Colts (2022-24).
Bradley’s scheme is rooted in simplicity and execution-ideal for teams with elite talent that can win one-on-one matchups.
There’s also a possibility that Jim Schwartz could enter the mix. His future in Cleveland is uncertain after not landing the Browns’ head coaching job, and he’s long been one of the league’s sharpest defensive minds. If he becomes available, he could be a name to watch.
Whoever lands the job will inherit a defense that’s been a cornerstone of San Francisco’s identity, even amid constant change at the coordinator position. The 49ers have built their recent success on a fast, physical, and disciplined unit that thrives on pressure and playmaking. The challenge now is finding the right voice to keep that standard high-and maybe, just maybe, stick around for more than a season.