Kyle Shanahan Reveals Thoughts on 49ers Defensive Coordinator Change

After a disappointing 6-11 season that saw a last-place finish in the NFC West and the team sitting at home for the postseason, several changes were made on the coaching staff.

One of the most notable is a change at defensive coordinator, as coach Kyle Shanahan discussed recently.

"As hard as it is for me to come to this conclusion, I feel there are some options out there that can end up being a better option in the situation that we're in," Shanahan said. "And, when really it comes down to that, in the position I'm in, regardless of anything else, that's always the stuff I've got to go with"

First-year defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen was let go and replaced by a familiar face in Robert Saleh. Saleh served on the staff from 2017-20 in the same position before leaving to take the head coaching job for the New York Jets in 2021.

As the 49ers defensive staff takes shape for next season, they've also made an additional hire. Gus Bradley has joined the staff to serve as an assistant head coach.

Bradley has served in the NFL since 2009 - all on the defensive side of the ball as either a defensive coordinator or head coach. In Seattle, Bradley and Saleh both served under Pete Carroll.

Bradley took the Jaguars head coaching job in 2013 and hired Saleh as linebackers coach. The two have a comfortable familiarity.

Bradley most recently was DC of the Indianapolis Colts - before getting fired in January after a lackluster defensive season. Now, Bradley follows Saleh to San Francisco. After all, it's a "hire your buddy" type of league.

The pair will almost certainly be a better voice to the defensive roster than last year when Nick Sorensen and Brandon Staley were coaching them.