]

Kyle Shanahan faces biggest hire of 49ers career after making another huge decision. HTX

The San Francisco 49ers are once again looking for a new defensive coordinator.

San Francisco, per multiple reports, has come to the decision to relieve Nick Sorensen of his duties, though the 49ers would like to retain him on their staff.

Sorensen was hired as a replacement for Steve Wilks, receiving a promotion from the role of passing game specialist and nickels coach.

The 49ers deemed Wilks was ultimately a poor fit for their scheme despite San Francisco going within one play of winning Super Bowl 58 with him running the defense. Wilks’ play-calling at the end of their overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs came under substantial scrutiny.

But the in-house hire of a coach in Sorensen who has essentially spent his entire coaching career in the scheme did not pay dividends. Per Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard, Sorensen is well liked, but there seemed to be a sense he was not prepared for the job.

In Sorensen’s first year as a defensive play-caller, the 49ers dropped from fourth in defensive DVOA under Wilks to 13th. Additionally, they went from 10th in Expected Points Added per play on defense in 2023 to 26th, that drop-off underpinned by a dismal performance in run defense, in which they finished 29th in EPA and 25th in success rate.

The 49ers have several personnel problems to fix to address the issues that undermined their defensive efforts in 2024, with the interior defensive line and depth on the edge two pressing concerns.

But, in the more immediate future, head coach Kyle Shanahan, who on Monday fired special teams coordinator Brian Schneider, is under pressure to get the the hire right after successive one-and-done coaches in the defensive coordinator role.

There are compelling options on the market, with the 49ers’ first defensive coordinator under Shanahan, Robert Saleh, among them following his firing as New York Jets head coach. San Francisco was denied permission to speak to Jeff Ulbrich, who replaced Saleh as the Jets’ interim coach, last offseason, and it would be no surprise if Shanahan again makes an effort to lure the former 49ers linebacker back to the Bay Area.

Regardless of the direction in which the 49ers decide to go, the task for Shanahan is to find an experienced play-caller who is a good fit for their scheme but can also bring their own flavor to the defense, with Sorensen’s struggles to adjust and attack offenses with changeups and disguised coverage one of the biggest knocks against him.

With the 49ers eyeing a bounce-back following a season that fell dismally short of expectations, it is a challenge in which he must succeed. After two successive misfires at defensive coordinator, Shanahan faces the biggest hire of his 49ers career.

JUST ME BRO and TRUST ME BRO!

Related Posts

BREAKING: Dolрhins trаde lаnds rookie QB to bаttle Shedeur Sаnders. -CRISS

The Miаmi Dolрhiпs аre пot iп the mаrket for а stаrtiпg qυаrterbаck, bυt did iпfυse some comрetitioп iпto the bаckυр job by drаftiпg а rookie qυаrterbаck who wаs oпce…

“MONEY CAN’T BUY ME!” – Detroit Lions star Jared Goff turned down a $10 million offer from Elon Musk to join the Tesla Team. This bold and principled decision not only stunned the media but also caused an unexpected reaction from Musk. – criss

Iп a sυrprisiпg twist that blυrred the liпes betweeп professioпal sports aпd high-tech bυsiпess, Jared Goff, qυarterback of the Detroit Lioпs, reportedly tυrпed dowп a $10 millioп eпdorsemeпt aпd collaboratioп…

BREAKING: Prominent LGBT billionaire Tim Cook offered George Kittle $200 million and an 49ers sponsorship for the 2025 season if he would make an openly pro-LGBT ad forever, in response George Kittle said just 1 sentence that left the entire NFL speechless…-CRISS

Iп a stυппiпg tυrп of eveпts that’s seпdiпg shockwaves across the NFL aпd social media platforms worldwide, reports have sυrfaced that Apple CEO aпd promiпeпt LGBT billioпaire Tim…

BREAKING: The Detroit Lions have been officially recognized as the best and most unified football program in the world, a title jointly awarded by ESPN, Netflix and Guinness World Records. -CRISS

Iп a historic aпd υпprecedeпted aппoυпcemeпt, the Detroit Lioпs have beeп officially recogпized as the best aпd most υпified football program iп the world. The prestigioυs hoпor was…

49ers Star George Kittle Reportedly Rejects $10 Million Offer From Elon Musk To Join Tesla Initiative — Cites Personal Values Over Fortune, Prompting Surprising Reaction From Tech Billionaire. – CRIISS

“MONEY CAN’T BUY ME!” – 49ERS star George Kittle tυrпed dowп a $10 millioп offer from Eloп Mυsk to joiп the Tesla Team. This bold aпd priпcipled…

SHOCK: Aidan Hutchinson Quietly Gives a Large Sum of Money and a “Special Gift” to a Pregnant Black Woman at a Gas Station — No Cameras, Just Tears and Kindness! -CRISS

Iп a toυchiпg aпd υпexpected momeпt, Detroit Lioпs star Aidaп Hυtchiпsoп qυietly gave a large sυm of moпey aпd a special gift to a pregпaпt Black womaп…