49ers Shakeup: Major Changes After Disappointing 2024 Season

A Season of Struggles Leads to Major Coaching Changes
The San Francisco 49ers are shaking things up following a disappointing 2024 season that saw them finish with a 6-11 record and miss the playoffs. A source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the team is making significant adjustments to their coaching staff. Among the changes, Special Teams Coordinator Brian Schneider was fired on Tuesday, though the team has yet to make an official announcement. The move comes after what was considered a lackluster season, leading to broader decisions regarding the team’s future.

Third Consecutive Defensive Coordinator Change
In what is becoming a recurring trend, this marks the third consecutive offseason in which the 49ers will have a new defensive coordinator. The first change came after the 2022 season when DeMeco Ryans left the team to become the head coach of the Houston Texans. Steve Wilks was brought in last year to fill the role, and under his leadership, the 49ers made it all the way to the Super Bowl. However, despite the team’s success, Wilks was let go after one season. Coach Kyle Shanahan cited a mismatch between Wilks’ defensive scheme and the players on the roster, leading to his dismissal.

Nick Sorensen Takes Over But Struggles to Reignite the Defense
Following Wilks’ firing, Shanahan promoted Nick Sorensen to the role of defensive coordinator. Sorensen had spent the previous two seasons primarily working with the secondary and leading the team’s weekly meetings on turnover prevention. Despite his experience, Sorensen couldn’t quite get the defense back to the elite level it had achieved under Ryans.

The 49ers defense ranked 29th in the league in scoring defense, allowing 25.6 points per game. They also tied for the seventh fewest takeaways with just 17 interceptions and fumble recoveries. Over the final nine games of the season, the team recorded a mere two takeaways, and in a shocking turn of events, they allowed 40 or more points in back-to-back games for the first time since 2015.

Injuries Compounded the Struggles
While coaching changes and scheme adjustments were significant factors, injuries also played a substantial role in the 49ers’ defensive struggles. Key players such as Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave, Dre Greenlaw, and Talanoa Hufanga were forced to miss valuable time throughout the season. These absences undoubtedly impacted the team’s ability to perform at the level expected, especially in high-stakes games that defined their season.

A Fresh Start for the 49ers
With the 2024 season behind them and the coaching staff undergoing major changes, the 49ers will be looking ahead to the 2025 season with a renewed sense of urgency. The team hopes to find stability within its coaching staff and build a more cohesive defense capable of leading them back to the playoffs and beyond. For Coach Shanahan, these changes are part of a long-term strategy to rebuild and reestablish the 49ers as a championship contender in the coming years.