The San Francisco 49ers reportedly have a new defensive coordinator.
After one season of Steve Wilks at defensive coordinator, the 49ers are promoting defensive passing game specialist and nickles coach Nick Sorensen to defensive coordinator, per Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
Along with promoting Sorensen, the 49ers are hiring former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley to a “prominent staff role,” according to Schefter and Fowler. The 49ers interviewed Staley as a candidate for defensive coordinator. Prior to joining the Chargers as head coach, Staley was defensive coordinator under Sean McVay with the Los Angeles Rams.
Via @AdamSchefter on Twitter:
Two big hires in San Francisco: the 49ers plan to hire their defensive passing game specialist Nick Sorensen as their new defensive coordinator, and former Chargers HC Brandon Staley for a prominent staff role, possibly assistant head coach, sources tell me and @JFowlerESPN. pic.twitter.com/hbV4ykACkI
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 2, 2024
Sorensen joined the 49ers as a defensive assistant in 2022. Prior to coaching on Kyle Shanahan’s staff, Sorensen was the special teams coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Before joining the Jaguars, Sorensen coached with the Seattle Seahawks from 2013 to 2020.
After the reported promotion of Sorensen and the hiring of Staley, the NFL community on Twitter exploded with reactions. Here’s what fans and analysts were saying on social media early on Saturday morning.
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More about the 49ers planning to promote Nick Sorensen to defensive coordinator and hiring former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley as assistant head coach, via @nwagoner:https://t.co/Rd2fZPl76p
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 2, 2024
San Francisco’s assistant head coach last season was former Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn. Now their assistant head coach this season is expected to be former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley. https://t.co/bOZVPL3ZWP
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 2, 2024
New 49ers defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen joined San Francisco’s staff in 2022 as a defensive assistant. He was promoted to defensive passing game specialist/nickel backs last year. Sorensen spent the previous year as the Jaguars special teams coordinator. He also spent eight… https://t.co/bOZVPL3ZWP
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 2, 2024
Two big hires in San Francisco: the 49ers plan to hire their defensive passing game specialist Nick Sorensen as their new defensive coordinator, and former Chargers HC Brandon Staley for a prominent staff role, possibly assistant head coach, sources tell me and @JFowlerESPN. pic.twitter.com/hbV4ykACkI
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 2, 2024
Brandon Staley has been an NFL defensive coordinator once. His 2020 Rams defense ranked #1 by a wide margin. He is a disciple of former 49ers DC Vic Fangio. Staley impressed Kyle Shanahan with his game plans vs top opposing offenses, including vs the 49ers in 2022.
Shanahan,…
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) March 2, 2024
49ers will have 2 consecutive assistant head coaches who are ex-Chargers head coaches.
Anthony Lynn, who left to the Commanders, helped Kyle Shanahan craft the team's run game the past two seasons as AHC. Brandon Staley is likely to get that title to help the defensive side
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) March 2, 2024
Then why isn’t Staley the DC? Why have two voices?
And Saleh came into a different situation (rebuilding team) and got better over time. DeMeco’s don’t come along every day and even then they were retooling with Lance. This team is more win now.
All good discussions https://t.co/VQoASUc95l
— Al Sacco (@AlSacco49) March 2, 2024
Shanahan’s done a great job identifying coaching talent and has earned the benefit of the doubt with me.
Having said that, hiring someone as inexperienced as Sorensen (who’s never been a DC & was coaching special teams two years ago) in another all-in season is risky imo… https://t.co/hQ5EnNbLpY
— Al Sacco (@AlSacco49) March 2, 2024
White smoke coming from 49ers facility:
Brandon Staley is coming aboard, but not as defensive coordinator. Current defensive staffer Nick Sorensen is being promoted to that DC role.
This will allow SF to maintain existing defense while infusing new, outside ideas from Staley https://t.co/m5VeBTtnKa
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) March 2, 2024
#49ers are promoting Nick Sorensen to defensive coordinator after a series of interviews over past couple of weeks and plan to hire Brandon Staley to role on staff, sources tell our @AdamSchefter and @JFowlerESPN.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) March 2, 2024
The #49ers are promoting Nick Sorensen to defensive coordinator, per @JFowlerESPN pic.twitter.com/MR3SDp4UsY
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) March 2, 2024
There is clearly a lot of belief in Nick Sorensen inside the building and Kyle deserves the leeway given the hirings of Saleh & Ryans. That being said its a massive risk to go with a first time DC for a team all in for a title
Obviously why Staley was hired (AHC/DPGC?) as well https://t.co/R73mJUTd0s
— Kevin A Molina (@KevinAMolina) March 2, 2024
49ers set to promote Nick Sorensen as new defensive coordinator, per @RapSheet https://t.co/qVaG27StOH pic.twitter.com/pfAI5us88F
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) March 2, 2024
Interesting that the 49ers are loading up on defensive assistants with DB backgrounds (Nick Sorensen, Asauni Rufus & now Stephen Adegoke). Very smart to infuse the coaching staff with young coaching talent at positions of importance https://t.co/G1CYu35NyN
— Kevin A Molina (@KevinAMolina) March 1, 2022
New 49ers DC Nick Sorensen played QB at Virginia Tech before moving to defense when — Michael Vick took over as QB of the Hokies.
— Tommy Call III (@tommy_III) March 2, 2024
Our new DC Nick Sorensen’s coaching history … #49ers #FTTB pic.twitter.com/Gi4vqvrrcs
— 49er_Edits (@49er_edits) March 2, 2024
