The San Francisco 49ers aren’t staying complacent after losing another Super Bowl.
Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch believe — with the right staff in place — and with the bulk of the talent that has gotten them to back-to-back NFC title games and a Super Bowl this past season — set to return, they have a solid chance of running it back.
One of the more surprising moves was parting ways with defensive coordinator Steve Wilkes after the Super Bowl.
While the 49ers saw an uptick in interceptions generated, the defense struggled as the season came to a close, which carried into the playoffs until the Super Bowl. Still, the San Francisco 49ers finished No. 8 in the NFL in total defense and Wilks contained Mahomes for the entirety of the Super Bowl which forced overtime. Ultimately Shanahan opted to get the ball first… and the rest is history.
In fact, it felt like the 49ers were going to move off Wilks regardless of the outcome of the Super Bowl, speaking to the disconnect between him and Kyle Shanahan, as well as with the players.
Now, the 49ers have done a good job of moving on when a fit, be it with a player or a coach, isn’t working, which is what they did with Wilks.
The San Francisco 49ers quieted the rumors last week when promoting defensive pass game coordinator and nickels coach Nick Sorensen to defensive coordinator, looking to fill the void internally after going external last offseason with Steve Wilks.
In addition to promoting Sorensen, the 49ers hired former Los Angeles Chargers Brandon Staley as a defensive specialist, which came after they interviewed him for their defensive coordinator vacancy.
When hiring Wilks last offseason, not only were the 49ers looking for a change in philosophy from their new defensive coordinator, but they were shying away from their internal options.
San Francisco’s last hire, linebackers coach DeMeco Ryans, was an internal selection, and proved to be a great choice, as he developed through some early mistakes to become the league’s best defensive coordinator, earning him a head-coaching gig with the Houston Texans last offseason
With Sorensen becoming the next defensive coordinator, the 49ers are getting someone with a diverse background, as the former passing game coordinator has special teams experience as a coordinator, while also being a disciple of the Seattle system, having worked there from 2016-20.
Like Wilks, Sorensen comes into the role with a defensive back background, although he’ll be tasked with doing the primary thing that his predecessor struggled with: marrying the pass rush to the secondary.
However, Sorensen’s leash is much smaller than Ryans’s, given the San Francisco 49ers’ closing Super Bowl window, which could arguably end after this upcoming season with the team’s current core of star players.
While Ryans had time to develop into an elite defensive coordinator between his first and second years, Sorensen needs to adapt quickly and find his groove as a playcaller as the 49ers look to push their eggs in with hopes of another deep playoff run and a Lombardi Trophy this season
Brandon Staley’s hiring is an intriguing one for the 49ers, as the former head coach has extensive playcalling experience stemming back to his year as the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams.
But, his role is unknown with the 49ers, as it’ll be expected that he’ll help with the creativity on the gameplanning side.
Now, Staley could be an essential asset in helping the 49ers’ defense reach its old heights while serving behind the scenes.
However, Staley’s presence is both a help and a sign of pressure for Sorensen, as the 49ers have another option with playcalling experience that could take over should their new defensive coordinator struggle initially.
That wasn’t the case in either of the past two years, but 2024 is a crucial year for an aging 49ers roster that faces several tough decisions over the next two offseasons when it comes to contracts on the team.
San Francisco 49ers Add Bring Back Mick Lombardi, Assistant Head Coach Under Jim Harbaugh
The 49ers have made another addition to their coaching staff and he’s a familiar name to Jed York and the San Francisco brass.
Matt Maiocco of NBCSportsBayArea.com reports that the team has hired former Raiders offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi. The team has not announced what Lombardi’s title will be on the staff.
Lombardi was hired by the Raiders after Josh McDaniels became their head coach in 2022 and he was fired along with McDaniels in October of last year. He also coached with the Patriots and Jets after starting his NFL coaching career with the Niners. He was the team’s assistant to the head coach under Jim Harbaugh in 2013 and remained in the organization through the 2016 season.
It’s clear Shanahan is trying to find creative ways to build a staff with proven talent to hopefully take the San Francisco 49ers past the recent hurdle and win a Lombardi Trophy.
The 49ers also made changes on the defensive side recently by promoting Nick Sorensen to defensive coordinator and hiring Brandon Staley, but the team has not officially announced any of the moves yet.
Mick Lombardi is the latest addition to the revamped 49ers staff and only time will tell if all of these moves pay off.