Nick Sorensen and Brandon Staley were the initial candidates to interview with coach Kyle Shanahan for the defensive coordinator position with the 49ers.
Shanahan evidently found both Sorensen and Staley to be highly impressive during their interviews, as he reportedly intends to bring them both on board.
Sorensen, aged 45, is set to be promoted to defensive coordinator following his two-year stint as an assistant with the 49ers, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The vacancy arose when Shanahan dismissed Steve Wilks just three days after the 49ers’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII.
Having played 10 seasons in the NFL as a safety, Sorensen will take charge of the defensive coordination duties, working closely alongside Staley, the former head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. Staley, aged 41, is expected to join the 49ers’ staff as the assistant head coach.
Under Sorensen’s guidance over the past two seasons, the 49ers’ defense has significantly improved, particularly in generating turnovers. The team managed 42 interceptions while conceding only 40 touchdown passes during this period.
Staley, after impressing Shanahan and 49ers general manager John Lynch during his interview, is set to collaborate closely with Shanahan across various aspects of coaching. Shanahan and Lynch had initially interacted with Staley back in August 2021 during joint practices between the 49ers and Chargers in Costa Mesa.
The former assistant head coach of the 49ers, Anthony Lynn, recently joined Dan Quinn’s coaching staff with the Washington Commanders as the running game coordinator.
Following the interviews in Santa Clara, Lynch proceeded to Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine, where he outlined the 49ers’ objectives regarding the new defensive coordinator position. Lynch emphasized the team’s satisfaction with their defensive style while also acknowledging the need for evolution and potential new ideas.
Staley has previous experience working under former 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio in Chicago and Denver. He served as the defensive coordinator for the Rams in 2020 before taking on the head coaching role with the Chargers, where he accumulated a record of 24-25 over three seasons.
Sorensen’s elevation to defensive coordinator concludes a 17-day search for the position. Other candidates interviewed for the role included defensive backs coach Daniel Bullocks, Kansas City defensive backs coach Dave Merritt, and Las Vegas safeties coach Gerald Alexander.
This opportunity marks Sorensen’s first venture into the role of defensive coordinator. He initially joined the 49ers as a defensive assistant in 2022 before being promoted to defensive passing game/nickel backs coach last season.
Sorensen, who enjoyed a 10-season career in the NFL as a safety, joined the coaching ranks following his tenure as special teams coordinator in Jacksonville. His coaching career commenced in 2013 with the Seattle Seahawks, where he served under Pete Carroll in various roles, including special teams assistant and secondary coach.
