News 49ers Team Notes

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers News: Salute to Robert Saleh

Report: Titans hiring 49ers’ Robert Saleh as next head coach
“The 49ers have Gus Bradley on staff, serving as the team’s assistant head coach and a potential natural successor to Saleh. However, San Francisco is expected to evaluate all of its options.”

49ers game review: Wide receivers group struggled in Seattle. Are changes coming? (paywall)
“he tone was set immediately on Rashid Shaheed’s 95-yard, game-opening kickoff return. What happened on the 49ers’ coverage?

One issue: rookie running back Jordan James.

The fifth-round pick was lined up on the left side, the second closest to the sideline, and wasn’t blocked as he ran downfield and appeared to have an angle to make the tackle at the 27-yard line, about seven yards from Shaheed. However, James didn’t take a sharp turn and his rounded-off path allowed Shaheed to sprint through a wide alley as James loped behind him. Linebacker Luke Gifford and cornerback Chase Lucas dove at Shaheed’s feet around the 38-yard line and he later avoided the attempted slide-tackle trip by Eddy Piñeiro, a former soccer player, en route to the end zone.

James does have this excuse: inexperience. He arrived Saturday having played 17 special-teams snaps in his NFL career, including nine in the previous week’s wild-card win at Philadelphia.“

49ers’ rookie Mykel Williams on season-ending knee injury: ‘It’s been hard’ (paywall)
““Bosa’s been extremely helpful,” Williams said Monday. “He’s like a real big brother. He looks out, he comes in, checks on me, sits down, eats lunch with me, talks to me, asks me about my knee, asks me how I’m feeling. I feel more comfortable leaning on him and asking him for stuff, versus like a lot of other people … because he’s been through it. He knows exactly what it feels like and how to move.”

Ranking 49ers’ position groups as their offseason begins (paywall)
“The dominant theme from the 49ers’ season was how well backups and newcomers slid into key roles. The exception was defensive end. Once Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams went down with ACL injuries, no one stepped up. Bryce Huff was leading the team with four sacks in Week 7, but he had no sacks from that point on and didn’t have a single pressure Saturday. Midseason addition Keion White was only marginally more productive. Bosa and Williams are expected to make full recoveries, but those recoveries will spill into the offseason, if not the regular season. It seems like another year in which the 49ers must fortify their edges.”

49ers locker room postmortem: Kittle’s optimism, and other notes (paywall)
“I talked to Ji’Ayir Brown for a while as the locker room started to empty out. He’s simultaneously an honest, reflective person, and someone who has ambitions that might border on delusional. I respect that.

I think you have to have unrealistic expectations to make it to the NFL and succeed, and Brown and his former JUCO-to-Penn State teammate Jaquan Brisker both pursued an unrealistic path to get where they are.

I found it particularly interesting hearing how much Brown enjoyed and missed playing nickel. My argument for most of the second half was that Jason Pinnock shouldn’t have been on the field at all. They should have used Brown like they used Deommodore Lenoir last year, and Marques Sigle like Isaac Yiadom/Renardo Green, where they’d inject them onto the field and slide Lenoir inside on nickel snaps.

That, in my view, would have maximized Sigle, while limiting his vulnerability, but also maximizing him as a true free safety, with two other safeties to communicate with and face more responsibilities in the box.

It would be the best of Brown. He said as much.

“[Playing nickel] taught me a lot about the defense and a lot about myself, and I enjoyed it, bro,” Brown told me. “’I honestly wish it was more of that, that I kept doing throughout the year, because I feel like I was such a great player in that spot, which I’m a great safety as well, but just that nickel spot, it’s a different game down there. So I actually liked it. I enjoyed the hell out of it. Man, I’m glad it fell on my plate.”

Brown said he loved being close to the action.

“When you back there at safety, you might get one or two plays in the game where you could really make a difference,” Brown. “But when you’re in that fire, every play, it’s a big difference.”

While Brown was a mixed bag this season, it clearly looked like his best season. Taking on that additional nickel role would have been a lot on his shoulders, but they already trusted him to communicate on the backend more than anyone. There was far more good than bad, and he was great coming downhill in the run game.“

Two NFL mock drafts have 49ers targeting offensive line help
“Gordon McGuinness has the 49ers selecting Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu with their first-round pick.

“Lomu disappointed as a run blocker in 2025, resulting in a 62.0 PFF run-blocking grade, but his 82.1 PFF pass-blocking grade was impressive,” McGuinness wrote. “The 49ers need a long-term replacement for left tackle Trent Williams, and Lomu could be the perfect fit.”

Lomu allowed eight pressures and no sacks across 383 pass-blocking snaps last season. While his 82.1 pass-blocking grade marked a career high, his 62.0 run-blocking grade represented a noticeable drop from his 70.1 mark in 2024.

Josh Edwards of CBS Sports has the 49ers going with a different player in the first round. In his latest mock draft, he has the team selecting Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling.“

Jauan Jennings emotionally reflects on 49ers tenure ahead of NFL free agency
“When I first flew in here, I thought I was going to San Francisco, just like everybody else. And you find out fast, it’s Santa Clara. And now it’s home — quickly turned into home. A run I’ll never forget, for sure.”

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...s-mykel-williams-free-agency-draft-john-lynch

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers announce the signings of 14 free agents to Reserve/Future contracts

The San Francisco 49ers announced on Tuesday afternoon that they signed 14 free agents to Reserve/Future contracts:

OL Isaac Alarcon

DL Evan Anderson

CB Eli Apple

WR Junior Bergen

DL William Bradley-King

DB Derrick Canteen

LB Andrew Farmer II

S Darrick Forrest

LB Jalen Graham

QB Adrian Martinez

OL Drake Nugent

OL Brandon Parker

WR Malik Turner

DL Sebastian Valdez

This is effectively the practice squad entering the offseason, with plenty of potential changes to come. The 49ers signed Forrest to the practice squad during the playoffs and had seen enough from him in a short period to sign him to a contract.

Farmer II signed a Reserve/Future contract with the Denver Broncos this time last year, only to be released on August 25, 2025.

The 49ers have some interesting decisions to make on the roster this offseason. For example, they just received great production from their returner spots. Still, both Brian Robinson and Skyy Moore are free agents. Jordan James should take Robinson’s spot, and there will inevitably be a rookie added to the mix. But did Junior Bergen prove he deserves a crack at the returner jobs, or is Moore good enough to warrant a roster spot, despite not contributing on offense?

Adrian Martinez and Kurtis Rourke will likely battle for a roster or practice squad spot, depending on what happens with Mac Jones this offseason.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...of-14-free-agents-to-reserve-future-contracts

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers front office member Josh Williams gets another GM request

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Atlanta Falcons have submitted a general manager interview request for San Francisco 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams, who was a finalist for the Jacksonville and Miami general manager searches.

The Falcons recently hired former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski. Atlanta also requested Texans assistant general manager James Liipfert for the same vacancy. Ahead of drafting Mykel Williams last year, Williams shared his process and philsophy with the media:

“That’s just a big part of our process. For every player we draft, we have a vision for them. We’re constantly talking to our coaches, talking to each other. We work collectively to kind of have a vision of how they’re going to make this team and how they’re going to make us better.”

You would hope that’s the case for all 32 teams. The plan for Williams was to stop the run on early downs and kick inside as a pass rusher on late downs while taking advantage of the space with Bryce Huff lined up in a Wide-9 with Nick Bosa opposite of him. We did not get to see that for more than a month in 2025.

If Williams is hired as a general manager, the 49ers will receive a third-round compensatory pick.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...-member-josh-williams-gets-another-gm-request

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Did Kyle Shanahan tip his hand on who the next 49ers defensive coordinator is?

We will discuss potential defensive coordinators for the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday morning. After his Wednesday press conference, Kyle Shanahan may have tipped his hand on who his next coordinator will be.

Kyle Shanahan was asked if he plans to cast a wide net, and who the internal candidates are for the job is:

I wouldn’t say it’s a real wide net. Gus is the obvious one to everyone, and is for us, too. Gus would be the main internal candidate. Feel very fortunate to get Gus, and feel great about that.

But also, we are going to go through the whole process. There are requirements that we have to do and want to do, also. Hopefully, we can get it settled sooner than later. I see it working throughout this next week on it.

Later on, Shanahan was asked if he wanted to stay with the defensive scheme that had worked for him throughout the years, which had primarily come from the Seattle coaching tree:

When you say Seattle system, I feel like that’s from when we first got here. A four-down front and a team that majored in Cover 3. I think what’s left from that is we major in a four down front. It really hasn’t been that since 2019. It’s been totally different.

We had a lot of 5-down fronts this year. There’s teams that are 3-4 base that didn’t get into base the entire year. They’re in nickel throughout the whole time. So I think the semantics, or the way you describe that is a little overrated.

Defenses need a little bit of everything. Yeah, we have a four-down front. That’s what we like to do. But I thought it was important that we have some 5-down fronts this year. And we did put that in. I think it’s important that you do have a coverage that you can really settle on, knowing that’s what we do the best.

But if you don’t have 4-5 coverages that can play off that, then it doesn’t really matter how good you are at that coverage. That’s how good this league works now. Offensive coaches know how to attack things too much. You have to up the variable of what they know they are going to get. That starts with front change. That starts with coverage change. And it goes with personnel change. I think we’ve done more of that each year, and we’ll continue to have to do more of that.

That’s an in-depth answer that does not describe what Gus Bradley has been as a coordinator during his NFL career. Bradley has been known for running various Cover 2 and 3 schemes, mainly the latter, but has not had much success along the way.

Per ACME Packing’s Justis Mosqueda, Gus Bradley’s defenses, passer rating against:
2025: 26th
2024: 23rd
2023: 13th
2022: 30th
2021: 25th

We will do a deeper dive if Bradley is indeed the coordinator, but we’ve seen how Bradley’s defenses fare in the NFL, especially against elite units. There is no secret as to what you’re getting, and the innovation has left plenty to be desired.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...n-who-the-next-49ers-defensive-coordinator-is

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Christian McCaffrey and Kyle Shanahan named as NFL Honors finalists

Christian McCaffrey and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan have received recognition for their contributions to a remarkable 2025 season for San Francisco, with both named as finalists for awards that will be announced at the NFL Honors ceremony during Super Bowl week.

McCaffrey is a finalist in three categories, with the 49ers’ do-it-all running back up for the MVP award, Offensive Player of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year.

That follows a season in which McCaffrey racked up 2,126 yards from scrimmage and 17 touchdowns despite often struggling on the ground, averaging just 3.9 yards per carry. McCaffrey was once again devastatingly effective as a pass-catcher, and finished just 76 receiving yards shy of his second season with 1,000 yards as both a rusher and a receiver.

The undisputed focal point of the 49er attack, there’s little doubt McCaffrey was the 49ers’ MVP, but he is unlikely to take home that honor, with Matthew Stafford and Drake Maye considered the frontrunners.

McCaffrey similarly seems to be a long shot to win Offensive Player of the Year for the second time in three seasons, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba the heavy favorite to claim that award. Instead, look for McCaffrey to likely be named Comeback Player of the Year, his exploits this season coming on the back of a 2024 campaign that was ruined by Achilles and knee issues.

Shanahan, meanwhile, is unsurprisingly a finalist for Coach of the Year after guiding the 49ers to a 12-5 record amid another season of incredible adversity on the injury front.

It is an award Shanahan has yet to win despite his consistent success with the 49ers over the years. He was a runner-up to Jim Harbaugh in 2019 and to Brian Daboll in 2022. He finished fifth in the voting in the 49ers’ most recent Super Bowl season of 2023.

This year, he has stiff competition in the form of Liam Coen, Ben Johnson, Mike Vrabel and Mike Macdonald.

Coen, Johnson and Vrabel oversaw hugely impressive turnarounds in Jacksonville, Chicago and New England respectively. Macdonald, meanwhile, turned the Seahawks into a Super Bowl favorite and made his case for receiving the award over Shanahan with how the Seattle defense shut down the 49er offense in Week 18 and in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.

Still, it is a regular-season award. The 49ers split their regular-season series with Seattle and, given the injuries the 49ers overcame at quarterback, wide receiver, tight end, on the defensive line, and at linebacker, it’s difficult to dispute the argument that no coach in the NFL did a better job of maximizing the talent at his disposal than Shanahan.

Hopefully, the panel of voters that decide the award saw it the same way.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...frey-kyle-shanahan-named-nfl-honors-finalists

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Kyle Shanahan says he’d be ‘very surprised’ if Mac Jones wasn’t a 49er in 2026 amid trade talk

The San Francisco 49ers had quite the season this year, winning 13 games despite a slew of injuries, including a road playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles before bowing out.

A big part of that success was backup quarterback Mac Jones, who weathered the storm when starter Brock Purdy was out, going 5-3 in eight starts with some impressive play off the bench. In that stretch, Jones threw for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions, while executing the level at a high offense.

Naturally, Jones’s play sparked potential offseason trade talk, given the number of teams that are in need of a quarterback this offseason. And since he’s on a very team-friendly deal ($2.81 million salary in 2026), he could be a valuable asset on the open market.

Speaking to reporters after the season ended, Jones expressed gratitude to the 49ers for the opportunity, noting how ‘awesome’ the year was for him. But he also acknowledged his belief that he’s a starter in this league when referencing the last year of his contract.

Should the 49ers keep him, they could retain a compensatory pick after next season if Jones gets a strong salary on the open market. So there certainly is a benefit to keeping the backup quarterback, even with his potential trade value, on top of his on-field play.

But what will the 49ers ultimately do with Jones this offseason? Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, head coach Kyle Shanahan shared that he’s spoken with Jones and doesn’t believe he’ll be anywhere else in 2026.

“[I had] awesome conversations with him, just like I did with a number of players,” Shanahan said of Jones. “As any player on our team, including myself and John [Lynch], you always listen to people and trade offers, but we’re also not into getting rid of good players. So, I’d be very surprised if Mac wasn’t around us next year.”

Lynch noted that Jones’s attitude was also a big factor for the team, helping lift up the spirits with his personality and his play during that early-season stretch.

“Mac made this place better. He was outstanding this season,” Lynch added. “He picked us up in a huge way and it was it was a really fun process to watch him come in and the joy that he was playing with. He’s got an infectious attitude that affects everybody on our team. It affected that quarterback room. You talk to Brock [Purdy], Brock will tell how he made him a better player.

“Biggest thing he did is when we needed him which came early in the season, he went in there and won us a lot of football games and he kept us in this thing. So, I can’t say enough about Mac, not only his play, his leadership. I call it leadership. Do you make people around you better? And I think Mac did that all season. And so, he’s been an outstanding addition. Like Kyle said, you always listen, but I know we’re a better football team with Mac Jones on our roster.”

The 49ers have to listen to offers, which both Shanahan and Lynch said is always a part of the process. But the price tag has to be quite high, given what San Francisco can likely get with the compensatory formula next offseason. Probably a second or even a first-round pick, if the 49ers can somehow find a way to fetch that (seems
highly unlikely).

This team has also been haunted by backup quarterback issues in the past, which has probably factored into their thinking with Jones as well. At his cost, he’s probably one of the most valuable contracts in the NFL.

The offseason has just begun and there’s still a long time to go. But those are some pretty definitive words regarding Jones from both Lynch and Shanahan.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...han-very-surprised-mac-jones-trade-john-lynch

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Is the 49ers defensive coordinator position a desirable job?

Between DeMeco Ryans and Robert Saleh twice now, the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator has produced three head coaching gigs in half a decade. The easy conclusion is that this is a desirable job as it’s been a springboard for multiple head coaching jobs.

Any success with a team that has the brand of the 49ers will put you in the spotlight. It helps when you have some of the best players at their respective positions in the NFL. But how attractive is the 49ers defensive coordinator job this offseason?

Nick Bosa and Fred Warner make for ideal building blocks. However, after those two, can you point to a promising starter?

The player with the second-highest cap number on defense is Deommodore Lenoir. Despite being targeted the fewest number of times since taking over as a starter, Lenoir allowed the most touchdowns, had the fewest pass breakups, and never really seemed to make the impact that the team hoped he would when they inked him to an extension during the 2024 season.

The hope was that Malik Mustapha would take a leap in his sophomore season, but Mustapha’s offseason was marred by an injury that kept him out of the lineup until Week 6. The 49ers also head into the offseason with a question mark next to Mustapha.

The 49ers’ second-round pick in 2024, Renardo Green, allowed a 50 percent completion percentage, allowed one touchdown, and finished 11th in the NFL in pass breakups. Yet, he was benched twice this season by his head coach.

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Linebacker Dee Winters stayed healthy for the most part in 2025. He’s under contract for one more season. His potential replacement, rookie Nick Martin, battled concussions and rarely played during his first year. If the Niners lose K.J. Wright to the Titans, it’s fair to assume the linebacker play would drop off.

Rookie Upton Stout was promising and showed growth as a player. Nickel is turning into an important position on defense. You wonder how Stout will hold up with his frame, but the talent and effort are undeniable.

The pass rush revolves around Bosa. Bryce Huff’s pressure numbers would have looked much better had he played with Bosa all season. He was still in the top 20, but the impact wasn’t there. We learned little about Mykel Williams. We know Alfred Collins and CJ West are formidable against the run, but leave enough to be desired as pass rushers, where the Niners might need to invest once more.

And that’s before you get to replacing veterans and filling out the depth along the defensive line. With that in mind, are we sure this is a position where candidates are knocking down the door for? It may not matter, as there’s an obvious in-house coach who could take the job.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...-saleh-demeco-ryans-defensive-coordinator-job

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

The true rooting guide for 49ers fans for Sunday’s Rams-Seahawks game

This is a strange time for San Francisco 49ers fans. The team qualified for the NFC playoffs, but isn’t playing in the NFC Championship game. For those unaware, the Niners under Kyle Shanahan either miss the playoffs altogether or at least play in the NFC title game. To make things worse, the two NFC teams fighting for a Super Bowl berth are the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams.

As a 49ers fan, I actually don’t even think there is a football game on February 8th at Levi’s Stadium. There is a concert being held by my fellow Puerto Rican native and the most-streamed artist in the world, Bad Bunny, but not a football game.

Unfortunately, I think the NFL is playing a game at Benito’s concert on the 8th.

The old “I hope both teams lose” mantra will be worn out on Sunday, but sadly, one team has to win and advance. Gone are the days of wishing for a tie due to the postseason.

So, what is the proper way to root this weekend? Obviously, 49ers fans aren’t rooting for either side, but what would be the perfect scenario for this weekend and the Super Bowl? I’ve given this a ton of thought, crunched the numbers, and put in the man-hours to come up with the best scenario possible for 49ers fans. Before you even suggest it, no, it doesn’t involve Bane from Dark Knight Rises taking over Seattle. Trust me, I’ve thought that through.

The perfect scenario involves one team winning the NFC and advancing. Which team is that? It’s the Los Angeles Rams. Put your pitchforks down, I have a plan. Seattle advancing to a Super Bowl in Mike MacDonald’s second season as head coach would most likely lead to the rookie head coach winning his first Super Bowl and getting one before Shanahan.

But Jason, does that mean you are rooting for the Rams? Not on your life, but the scenario does involve Sean McVay advancing to his third Super Bowl.

Here’s how it works. The Rams knock off Seattle, and the Patriots defeat the Broncos. Now, it doesn’t actually matter which AFC team knocks off the Rams in the Super Bowl, but this perfect scenario involves the Patriots. Here’s why: McVay lost his first Super Bowl to the Patriots, and his second loss in three attempts would be in Levi’s Stadium to the same Patriots, sans Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.

Let’s also throw in the two MVP candidates. Think of it, the Patriots win, and Drake Maye is lifting the Lombardi. No matter if he wins the AP NFL MVP award, he would have the trophy that Matthew Stafford wants more. It’s all around a beautiful thing to envision as a 49ers fan.

Sadly, we are only left to hate-watch the next two weeks of football. But we can enjoy the Benito Bowl, and soak in the 17 Rams fans’ tears! So, there you have it, 49ers fans. We can still have fun with football while we wait for the 49ers to return to action. If that electrical substation was actually a thing, maybe it could knock out the Rams’ communication on Super Bowl Sunday, too.

Ok, now I’m off the deep end, but I’m thinking outside of the box and considering all possibilities!

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/genera...for-49ers-fans-for-sundays-rams-seahawks-game

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Christian McCaffrey becomes the third 49ers player ever to win this PFWA award

The Pro Football Writers of America announced San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey was voted the 2025 NFL Comeback Player of the Year after missing 13 games in 2024. McCaffrey led the NFL in receiving yards by a running back and had the second-most yards from scrimmage in the league in 2025.

San Francisco’s head coach, Kyle Shanahan, said McCaffrey’s season was one of the most impressive seasons he’s ever seen by an individual player:

Just in terms of what a warrior and man he is week in, week out. People who do that every week, to do it for 17 weeks in a row, not getting a bye week until December, and then to do it these last two games, like, Christian finds a way every week.

He commits himself 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to get his body possible to go out there and compete. I’ve never been around anything like that. The dude was unbelievable. His dedication to really empty the tank every single game and to be able to do that that many games in a row is something that I’ve never really seen before.

McCaffrey remaining healthy all season speaks to his preparation. Few fans believed he’d play every game. He became the first player in NFL history to register at least five rushing touchdowns and at least five receiving touchdowns in a season. He becomes the third 49ers player to win PFWA’s Comeback Player of the Year award, joining Bryant Young (’99) and Garrison Hearst (’01).

McCaffrey is also a finalist for MVP and Offensive Player of the Year.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...hird-49ers-player-ever-to-win-this-pfwa-award

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Why the 49ers will extend Trent Williams this offseason

When San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch spoke earlier in the week, one of the questions he answered was about the team’s plan this offseason. After a long-winded answer, Lynch said, “We will have a little more flexibility this year, and we’re excited about that.”

The 49ers could theoretically gain more salary cap space from Brandon Aiyuk’s contract, depending on how that plays out. But there is a more obvious answer for creating cap space, and something the 49ers do annually.

During the season, star left tackle Trent Williams hinted at wanting to play in the NFL into his 40s. If Williams’ 2025 play was any indication, that won’t be an issue for one of the best players in the league at left tackle.

Williams enters the final year of his deal in 2026. Ahead of the NFL Draft, we’re likely to read a mock draft a week about how the 49ers should prepare for life after Williams. The counter to that should be, why would the Niners want to move on from one of the best ever to do it, especially when there have been no signs of decline?

According to Over the Cap, the Niners could extend Williams, and by doing so, create $16.8 million in cap space for 2026. That’s a no-brainer. That money will allow the team to make a splash trade or sign a player in free agency.

That includes star players like A.J. Brown or Maxx Crosby. If the team elects to go the mid-tier route, a Williams extension could allow them to add multiple depth pieces or a pair of mid-level starters.

Extending Williams helps the 49ers on multiple fronts, from keeping an All-Pro and the continuity along the offensive line —they’ll likely need a starter at left guard, and who better to play next to than Williams? Then, you have the salary cap relief.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...ers-will-extend-trent-williams-this-offseason

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers News: I hope both teams lose

NFL analyst predicts 49ers “will go for a defensive overhaul”
“One of the most interesting predictions came from Solak, who wrote, “The 49ers will go for a defensive overhaul. Expect the 49ers to pursue John Franklin-Myers, an old pal of Saleh from his Jets days, and Trey Hendrickson, who makes sense on a one-year deal. They could swing for a big trade, too. Kayvon Thibodeaux, anyone?”

49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak removes himself from consideration for head coaching vacancies
“Senior NFL Insider Dianna Russini of “The Athletic,” Kubiak has removed himself as a candidate for any head coaching positions, posting on X, “49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak has removed himself from consideration for head coaching vacancies, per sources. The Raiders and Steelers had requested to interview him. He prefers to keep working with Kyle Shanahan.”

Will 49ers make wide receiver Jauan Jennings a priority in free agency? (paywall)
“The naysayers can say what they want about how he does things, but that’s how he operates,” said Bourne, whose breakout season with the 49ers in 2020 overlapped with Jennings. “I’m all silly and goofy every day. And that’s how I’m successful. He may be more mad or play from anger or whatever, not in a bad way, but that’s how he plays. He plays stronger. And it’s a different mindset.”

Bourne added: “I definitely think he deserves what he believes he deserves.”

Jennings and the 49ers were too far apart in the summer to conclude what that number should be. Now there are more than a few variables to consider.

By getting star wideout Brandon Aiyuk off their books, the Niners opened up almost $85 million in combined salary cap space for the next four seasons. Receiver also becomes a bigger need without the promise of an Aiyuk return. Jennings is an enforcer whose perimeter blocking matches what Shanahan typically wants at the position.

Lynch could also opt to swing bigger beyond Jennings, far from the fastest guy on the field, to add another separator alongside first-round talent Ricky Pearsall. The only Niners ballcarrier to surpass 20 mph this season was linebacker Dee Winters (20.15) on his pick-6, per NextGen Stats. Shanahan acknowledged the need for more speed on offense, a priority which Jennings does not necessarily fit.“

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...defensive-coordinator-gus-bradley-brock-purdy

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Rams-Seahawks playoff discussion: Who will represent the NFC in the Super Bowl?

The two best teams in the NFL all season meet in the NFC Championship to represent the conference in the Super Bowl.

When the Los Angeles Rams traveled to face the Seattle Seahawks in the middle of December, there were 996 total yards of offense. The Seahawks won 38-37, but trailed 30-14 in the fourth quarter. We may not see that same offensive outburst, but we also won’t see Sean McVay coach as poorly as he did last week.

The Rams looked like they were getting five or six yards per carry whenever they ran the ball, but McVay insisted on passing the ball. It’s almost as if he were preparing for a Seattle team that nobody runs the ball against.

Matthew Stafford has not fared well outdoors late in the season. But he also just threw for 457 yards and three touchdowns against one of the best defenses in the league a month ago in this same spot.

What will we see from Sam Darnold? Will the Rams be able to score enough to make Darnold throw? The 49ers didn’t. After a week where nothing went right for them, I look for the Rams to get right. The worst thing for the Seahawks was what happened to the Rams last week, and that should show itself today.

Rams 27, Seahawks 20.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...-who-will-represent-the-nfc-in-the-super-bowl

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

3 49ers takeaways from Championship weekend: You have to spend (wisely) to win

The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots are off to the Super Bowl. In a league where teams are chasing the next great thing, whether it’s a scheme, coach, or player, the league will attempt to emulate Seattle and New England’s success to some capacity this offseason.

Here are three takeaways from championship weekend.

You have to spend (wisely) to win​

Per Spotrac, both Super Bowl teams ranked first and fourth in free agent spending last offseason. The Seahawks found their quarterback, veteran possession receiver, and a pair of 33-year-old defensive linemen.

The Niners spent big on Javon Hargrave and Leonard Floyd. The difference here is fit. Demarcus Lawrence and Jarran Reed are also former top 50 picks, but play with a specific intent and aggression that were not a part of Hargrave or Floyd’s game.

It’s one thing to spend, it’s another to spend wisely and bring in pieces that fit a winning culture. The Patriots brought in Stefon Diggs to give their second-year quarterback a security blanket. He worked out about as well as they hoped. Pass rusher Harold Landry had 8.5 sacks, while Milton Williams was a disruptive presence that made everyone around him better. In the secondary, New England found a competitive cornerback in Carlton Davis, who finished with ten pass breakups.

The fit made sense. This offseason, it’s less about bringing in a big-name free agent and more about getting the right player who can thrive in your culture.

Take advantage of the deadline​

The 49ers attempted to offset their pass rush issues at the trade deadline by trading with the Patriots for Keion White. It did not look like New England missed White. The Patriots traded another player away and are still in the Super Bowl.

We saw the impact Rashid Shaheed had in Seattle on the opening kickoff in the Divisional round. On the Seahawks’ first possession against the Rams, Shaheed caught a 51-yard pass, which led to a touchdown. Shaheed ended up with three return touchdowns, making him well worth the trade.

The 49ers have long taken advantage of the trade deadline. While White was serviceable, moving forward, finding a difference-maker should be the goal. Shaheed isn’t recognized as one, but when you leave your mark on two playoff games, you can see why he should be considered a game-changer—at least to some extent.

I don’t think the Eagles regret using a third-round pick on a pass rusher after the success they had on that side of the ball. The Cowboys getting Quinnen Williams sets them up for great success moving forward. There will always be teams that are kicking themselves for making or not making a move. The Sauce Gardner trade was a head-scratcher at the time, and looks even more confusing after a quarterback injury. The Chiefs not trading for a running back was another puzzling one.

In hindsight, I wonder if the 49ers feel like they could have made another move on either side of the ball.

Your offense has to find a way to stay on the field on third down​

You can’t say “defense wins championships” after the Rams just had 479 total yards of offense, averaged 8.3 yards per play, and lost. What you can say is that late down efficiency is the name of the game. Of course, being better on early downs will keep you in more favorable situations.

Still, the Rams went 2-for-10 on third and fourth downs, while the Broncos went 4-for-15. You don’t stand a chance if you’re failing to convert north of 30 percent in the playoffs.

The situations couldn’t have been different. The Rams likely have the MVP and this high-flying offense with arguably the best offensive mind in the game. The Broncos had a backup quarterback playing the final quarter in a blizzard.

Whether it was the timing, accuracy, or chemistry that was off, neither the Rams nor the Broncos seemed to have an answer or a good feel for what to do on late downs. That’s where you can give the Patriots and Seahawks credit for forcing their opponent to make a play.

It also helps to have good coverage players, like Christian Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon. Not to mention a pass rush that can pressure the quarterback. Overall, the big takeaway on this side of the ball this past weekend was how dominant the defenses were on late downs.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...nship-weekend-you-have-to-spend-wisely-to-win

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Who are the 49ers top free agents?

The San Francisco 49ers had a ton of starters hit the open market in free agency last offseason and found lucrative deals elsewhere.

Aaron Banks got a four-year, $77 million deal with the Green Bay Packers. Charvarius Ward got three years and $54 million with the Indianapolis Colts. Javon Hargrave became a crucial piece for the Minnesota Vikings up front with a two-year, $30 million deal. Talanoa Hufanga became a starter for the Super Bowl-participating Denver Broncos on a three-year, $39 million deal. So did Dre Greenlaw, who signed a three-year, $31.5 million deal there.

Then there was Leonard Floyd, who went to the Atlanta Falcons on a one-year, $10 million deal. And Maliek Collins was one of the biggest steals of the offseason for the Cleveland Browns at two years and $20 million. Even backup swing tackle Jaylon Moore got two years and $30 million with the Kansas City Chiefs.

That’s quite the load of contributors heading elsewhere, while San Francisco’s top free agent addition was tight end Luke Farrell, who signed a three-year, $15.75 million deal.

Now, looking ahead to this offseason, the free agent departure pool doesn’t look nearly as bad as last offseason, although releases could add to that last. Who are the team’s top free agents?

Jauan Jennings

Jennings signed a two-year, $11.9 million deal in 2024 that could be worth up to $15.4 million and produced the best two years of his career. After catching 78 passes for 963 yards and seven touchdowns over the first three years of his career, Jennings broke out in 2024 with 77 catches for 975 yards and six touchdowns.

Then, in 2025, he followed that with 55 catches for 643 yards and nine touchdowns while also dealing with a few injuries earlier in the year.

He’s set for a big payday on the open market, which is well-deserved after earning $23.75 million through the first six years of his career.

Spencer Burford

Burford has been a polarizing player for the 49ers. He started his career at right guard, making 29 starts in 30 career games there over his first two seasons. Then he was a backup for the entirety of 2024 before seeing starts at left guard this year due to injury.

He could get some money on the open market (offensive line is always a premium), and the 49ers could also be looking for a replacement.

Yetur Gross-Matos

Gross-Matos signed a two-year, $18 million deal with the 49ers in free agency, which ended up being a very disappointing addition. He struggled to be healthy, playing in 19 games over two years, and didn’t have much of an impact this year when the team needed him.

He’s still only going into his age-28 season, so he’ll probably get interest on a short-term deal on the open market, but he wasn’t a major impact player for the 49ers this year.

Eddy Piniero

Outside of Jennings, Piniero’s probably the most important player to retain for the 49ers after the year he had. He had a phenomenal year, hitting 28 of his 29 field goals (96.3 percent). He’s now a career 89.7 percent field goal kicker and Kyle Shanahan publicly said the team wants him back.

The cost will be interesting, though, given what should be high interest on the open market.

Jake Tonges

He’s a restricted free agent, so the 49ers shouldn’t have a problem bringing him back, but perhaps they should look for a multi-year extension here.

Tonges wasn’t a good run-blocker, but he provided some ability in the pass game and will only be 27 in 2026. At the worst, he’s depth in the tight end room, which probably needs an upgrade over Luke Farrell at the TE2 spot next year.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...ts-2026-offseason-jauan-jennings-eddy-piniero

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

The 49ers should have a clear priority with in-house free agents

The 49ers have 21 unrestricted free agents this offseason but, beyond wide receiver Jauan Jennings, there aren’t many on that list who move the needle as players they should try extremely hard to keep on their books.

Interior offensive linemen Ben Bartch and Spencer Burford both have significant starting experience, but it would be no surprise if the 49ers allowed them to walk and remodel an area of the team that has continued to be a weakness.

Rather than getting into a bidding war for Jennings’ services or focusing on retaining the offensive and defensive backups that make up the bulk of their free agents, San Francisco should instead concentrate on the third facet of the game, with their entire core of specialists and some key special teamers all set for free agency.

Kicker Eddy Pineiro, punter Thomas Morstead and long snapper Jon Weeks are all bound for the open market, as are return men Skyy Moore and Brian Robinson Jr. In addition, linebacker and core special teamer Luke Gifford is also set for unrestricted free agency.

Robinson, for whom the 49ers traded last year, averaged 29.1 yards per kick return, good for 11th among qualifying players. Yet it was Moore — with his average of 27.5 yards per kick return (15th) and 11.6 yards per return (11th) — who truly electrified San Francisco’s return game following his trade from the Kansas City Chiefs.

His ability to make field-flipping returns made him a hugely valuable asset to the Niners and, with both Moore and Robinson able to contribute to the offense, San Francisco will likely be keen to bring both back at the right price.

Gifford, meanwhile, played 373 special teams snaps — tied with Siran Neal for the most on the team — and earned his first Pro Bowl nod for his efforts.

Bringing back Morstead and Weeks should be formalities, but it is Pineiro who is arguably the 49ers’ most important in-house free agent after a kicking performance that gave the 49ers much-needed reliability after the volatility they experienced with Jake Moody.

Having missed just one of his 29 field goals in 2025 — a 64-yard effort against the Indianapolis Colts that bounced off the upright — Pineiro may have several teams eyeing him as a potential free agent kicker signing.

However, after becoming a locker room favorite with the 49ers, it seems likely he will be happy to stay in the Bay Area. And, following a season in which Pineiro and Co. lifted a previously dreadful 49ers special teams to second in the NFL in EPA, retaining the key members of that unit should be top of the Niners’ to-do list when it comes to keeping hold of their own.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...729/49ers-clear-priority-in-house-free-agents

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Should the 49ers try to re-sign Jauan Jennings?

When it comes to impending free agents for the San Francisco 49ers this offseason, none are bigger than wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who will hit unrestricted free agency after six years with the team.

Jennings, who signed a two-year, $11.9 million deal worth up to $15.4 million in 2024, caught 55 passes for 643 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025, while playing in 15 games. Last year, he had a stellar 77 catches for 975 yards and six touchdowns, breaking out into a lead role as San Francisco’s top wideouts got injured.

The 49ers had paid Jennings his extension before either of those seasons. Through his first three years in the NFL combined, the wideout had caught 78 passes for 963 yards and seven touchdowns. So he was definitely a bargain the past two seasons when factoring in his heavier production.

That’s not even counting Jennings’s elite run-blocking and physicality, which has been a culture-setter for the 49ers and Kyle Shanahan. That’s been an invaluable part of the last few seasons, so it leads to the question: should San Francisco try to re-sign Jennings?

When it comes to free agency, it’s always tough to gauge the market, especially at wide receiver, because every team needs more talent at the position. Jennings will be a top free-agent wide receiver this year, especially if George Pickens gets signed by the Dallas Cowboys before free agency starts.

Apart from Pickens, the other free agent wide receivers include Alec Pierce, Mike Evans, Rashid Shaheed, Romeo Doubs, Deebo Samuel, Wandale Robinson, and others. Jennings might be a top-three option in that group next to Pierce when considering age, production, and fit. So it’s not out of the picture that he gets over $20 million a year, potentially even from the Tennessee Titans, who just signed Robert Saleh as their head coach and have over $100 million in cap space for 2026.

The 49ers don’t have many free agents they need to re-sign. Special teams rule the table, as Eddy Piñeiro, Jon Weeks, and Thomas Morstead all seem like players the team will look to retain before free agency starts. Other potential candidates include restricted free agent Jake Tonges, kick returner Skyy Moore, and special teamer Luke Gifford. But none of those options will be very expensive, like Jennings could.

Of course, San Francisco could let Jennings walk and pick up a compensatory pick (assuming they don’t spend as highly on a free agent). Wide receiver is a position that they need to upgrade at, so drafting one should be a priority, and the 49ers could prioritize more speed (perhaps by signing Alec Pierce or Rashid Shaheed).

At the moment, it doesn’t seem logical to splurge over $20 million annually to retain Jennings. Perhaps if the market doesn’t look as appealing after he enters free agency, a reunion at a lower price could make sure. But it’s expected he has a wide range of suitors, given the number of teams that need a veteran wide receiver and the lack of top options available on the market.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...-jennings-free-agency-offseason-kyle-shanahan

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

The 49ers still have one thing that’s no longer there in the NFL

2026 will be the 10th year that San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch will have been attached at the hip. In the modern era of football, where coaches and general managers are constantly changing, that seems like a rarity. Especially when the 49ers haven’t won a Super Bowl in that period.

This offseason, we saw quite the coaching carousel. Two of the league’s longest-tenured coaches, Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh, are no longer coaching their respective teams. Additionally, there were 10 total openings, which is tied for the most in NFL history in a single cycle.

There weren’t just head coach changes; two general manager jobs (Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons) opened up, while a whopping 18 (yes, 18) offensive coordinator jobs have become available this offseason. Then, there are the five new defensive coordinator jobs as well. The 49ers have one of those, with Robert Saleh leaving to coach the Tennessee Titans.

Stability has become an afterthought in the NFL, from both an organizational perspective and a coaching standpoint. And part of it is a good thing. Organizations have good coaches who get elevated and receive promotions elsewhere. But there’s also a constant cycling of coaches because owners get impatient, and we’ve seen a number of those situations unfold in the past few years.

When it comes to the 49ers, they’ve had the same top structure now for the last nine years with Lynch at general manager and Shanahan at head coach. What do they make of the current NFL landscape, and how has their relationship evolved over the years?

“That’s what’s easy with working with John. We don’t have to sit there and make much up or sit here and decide how I’m going to act before I go into a meeting room or anything,” Shanahan said at the end-of-year meetings. “I pretty much can act the same way with him in a meeting about free agency or the draft as I would having dinner with him at his house or something.

“When there’s not layers between things, it allows you to just speak and give people a chance to get better from what everyone says, and whether it’s right or wrong. And I think that’s how we’ve been since our first week together, and it’s cool that it’s 10 years later, and that hasn’t really changed. That’s to me why we bet, I think, more on each other as people before we knew how we would be. And I think that bet has worked out for both of us really well.”

For Lynch, while the stability is important, he understands that it comes with a level of expectations with one goal in mind. So the pressure is constantly there.

“I would just add that I think that’s every year that you rely on that. It’s a difficult business,” Lynch added. “You talked about all the moves out there, and I always stop and understand that with every one of those moves there’s a number of families that are affected. It’s not just the coach. It’s his kids who are going to school, it’s all of that. There’s players. There’s staff. And so, that is never lost on us. I love the stability.

“I’ll also tell you that I’m more fired up than ever to get this thing. While I’m proud of this team, we have higher standards, and we’ve knocked on the door for a long time here and came here to do one thing, and that’s win championships. So, I’m never going to stop striving for that. I love working with Kyle and his staff, and we constantly challenge ourselves, challenge each other to be better, and that won’t stop.”

Stability is rare in the NFL. The 49ers have it at the top with Shanahan, the third-longest-tenured head coach in the NFL, and Lynch. We’ll see now if they can achieve their final goal.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...john-lynch-kyle-shanahan-rarity-nfl-offseason

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers exit interviews, RB: Could less be more with Christian McCaffrey in ’26?

The San Francisco 49ers have one of the most valuable running backs in the NFL in Christian McCaffrey, who is coming off a season where he was a finalist for three prestigious awards.

McCaffrey’s rushing numbers weren’t great this past season. Despite not missing a game, he didn’t have a rush longer than 20 yards until the back half of the year. After the bye week, McCaffrey had two of those. His damage came as a receiver, leading the team with 924 receiving yards.

Some fans were reluctant to admit McCaffrey’s speed wasn’t the same. The data proves it: there were no touches this season in which McCaffrey surpassed 20 miles per hour. In 2023, before the Achilles injury, McCaffrey was a mainstay on Next Gen Stats’ speed leaderboard.

McCaffrey remained effective, despite not having those 60-yard touchdown runs that felt inevitable two years ago. He turns 30 in June, and that’s when running backs historically hit a wall. McCaffrey still has two years remaining on his contract, but there is no guaranteed money left on his deal.

As we begin our positional exit interviews, we’ll highlight three strengths, two weaknesses, and then project how the room will look heading into 2026.

Running back strengths​

Versatility

McCaffrey was the definition of an “eligible” player, which is how we should describe players in 2026. If you can run and catch, your value skyrockets. McCaffrey caught 102 passes, and 49 of those went for first downs. It’s impossible to scheme against somebody lining up in the backfield because there are so many ways for him to get open. More often than not, he’ll be defended against one of your worst coverage players. McCaffrey lined up in the slot just over 14 percent of the time, and occasionally would line up out wide. Ultimately, his seven receiving touchdowns and high reception percentage made him a cheat code out of the backfield.

Elusiveness

McCaffrey had a career high of 982 yards after contact, per Next Gen Stats. Surprisingly, most of his damage came between the tackles. Despite having 49 fewer carries inside the tackles, McCaffrey had three more 10+ yard carries, averaged 1.4 yards more per carry, and had a rushing EPA of +7.9 compared to -35.8. As a receiver, he was +142 in yards after the catch over expected.

All of that was because the first defender couldn’t tackle McCaffrey. His elusiveness and ability to manipulate defenders in space remain at a high level. Even if McCaffrey no longer possesses the speed he had a couple of years ago, there is no drop-off in this department.

Durability

Saying this about any 49ers position feels foolish, but we just watched McCaffrey shoulder the workload of an entire offense all season and never miss a game. When you think about the wear and tear McCaffrey went through, his season becomes more impressive. The 49ers finished toward the bottom of the league in yards before contact allowed. Plus, McCaffrey was targeted at an extremely high rate. He was getting battered and bruised all year, yet the most he would miss would be a series or two in a game.

Running back weaknesses​

Question marks behind McCaffrey

Part of the reason McCaffrey was used as often as he was, outside of it being McCaffrey, was the lack of trust Kyle Shanahan had in the players behind his starter. You’d hear fans during the season ask why Brian Robinson wasn’t getting more carries. Then you’d see Robinson average 2.3, 3.3, 3.3, 3.7 yards per carry in a game when he had north of five attempts. Robinson ran people over, which fans thought was cool, but he was not dynamic and left plenty of meat on the bone.

Isaac Guerendo not having a single carry all year tells you how the coaching staff feels about him as a ball carrier. Jordan James’ injury basically cost him his rookie season. We didn’t see James until the third quarter of a playoff game. In limited action, he looked like an upgrade from Robinson.

Less could be more with McCaffrey moving forward, especially if the plan is to ensure CMC can stay on the field all season. The 49ers must determine whether James or someone off the roster can be the RB2. McCaffrey said he was open to bringing in help. He was durable in 2025. But with a similar workload in 2026, that health feels like fool’s gold.

Lack of a big play threat

One year after we watched Guerendo have a 76-yard run, a 30-yard run, a 40 and a 27-yard reception, we are saying the 49ers lack speed at the position. You can’t count Guerendo if he’s not going to be used.

Look at the two teams in the Super Bowl. Rooke TreVeyon Henderson averaged 12.58 miles per hour on his rush attempts during the regular season, which was the seventh fastest in the NFL. That speed translates. Henderson averaged an extra 7.2 yards gained per missed tackle forced.

Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker recordered 33 runs of 10+ yards, and averaged 13.2 miles per hour on his rushes, which was the third-fastest mark. In the two final games against the 49ers, we saw how much of a difference speed makes.

That’s not to say the 49ers should go out and draft a 4.3 running back and hope he’s a scheme fit, but we know how easy the offense looked in 2023. Even if James is the RB2, there will be a lack of a big-play threat at the position.

How does the RB room look in 2026?​

Robinson is an unrestricted free agent. There’s little reason for the 49ers to bring him back. Robinson’s ability in the passing game was minimal, and he didn’t add enough as a runner to warrant more playing time.

There will be plenty of speed available at the running back position in free agency this offseason. Names like Travis Etienne, Breece Hall, and Kenneth Walker are all available. An interesting name to watch is Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell, who is a restricted free agent, but he was undrafted, making his tender something to monitor. Mitchell, 24, was the fastest running back on average this past season.

• McCaffrey
• James
• Rookie
• Free agent

Letting Robinson walk and releasing Guerendo wouldn’t be surprising. The 49ers have drafted running backs seemingly every year, and signing another contributor in free agency also makes sense. In a dream world, a player like Tyler Allgeier is brought in, and that’s your 1-2 punch. But Allgeier is a starter and may not want to split time in his second contract as he did in his first.

Another player who would complement McCaffrey and checks multiple boxes is Kenneth Gainwell, who was targeted on 27.2 percent of his routes in 2025, the highest mark in the NFL. Gainwell reached a top speed of over 15 miles per hour on nearly a quarter of his rushes, which was the third-best in the league. He also averaged a 10+ yard run at the fourth-highest rate. Gainwell turns 27 in March and would give the 49ers a quality backfield and still allow James to get touches as a runner.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...d-less-be-more-with-christian-mccaffrey-in-26

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Kyle Shanahan has an opportunity to allow the 49ers to evolve defensively

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has an opportunity in the coming days or weeks to get outside of his comfort zone. For now, it seems like Shanahan is going to hire soon-to-be 60-year-old Gus Bradley to be his defensive coordinator.

Bradley, a holdover from the Legion of Boom days in Seattle, spent this past season with the 49ers, serving as their associate head coach, helping with the red-zone defense, and telling stories on Saturday night before the game.

We do not have to pretend like this is some new, up-and-coming, innovative play-caller. If anything, it’s the opposite. We have enough recent data on Bradley as a coordinator, and the sample size does not project like the 49ers are upgrading:

If you ask any Jaguars, Chargers, Colts, or Raiders fan, they will tell you some hard truths about what it was like with Bradley as a coordinator.

Does that mean the 49ers would be destined for doom under Bradley? Not at all. But it’s difficult to imagine the Niners evolving under Bradley, which is exactly what this team needs to do, as teams that matter around them do.

The Seahawks hired 38-year-old Mike Macdonald. The Rams hired 39-year-old Chris Shula. The Lions’ defensive coordinator is 38. Dallas just hired a 34-year-old. The league is getting younger and bringing in coaches with fresh ideas built on the ones Bradley developed a decade ago.

We’ve seen a shift in coverage from Cover 3, something Bradley has been famously known to live and die by as his teams led the league every year when he was calling plays, to zone and man-match quarters coverages. Even Saleh evolved.

After being in the building for a full year and working closely with Saleh, one would think Bradley will. Then again, the guy in his 60s who just coached for the previous eight years running a very specific coverage and front is probably going to stick to what he knows.

The interviews during this process should tell us where Shanahan’s mindset is and if he’s even considering thinking outside of the box.

When you go to the team site, defensive backs coach Daniel Bullocks is no longer listed. That was a coach many thought would at least get an interview. If Bullocks is off to greener pastures, that would mean the 49ers have to go outside the building for potential minority candidates.

One name that would signal the 49ers are evolving is bringing in Karl Scott. He has been the Seattle Seahawks defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator since 2022. Scott was with Mike Zimmer and the Vikings for a year in 2021. Before that, he coached defensive backs at a small SEC school coached by Nick Saban. Scott majors in cornerbacks, and you can see how the Seahawks have grown at the position and been on top of everything this past year.

Scott has been a big proponent of quarters and has given hour-long coaching clinics on the different variations. If you’re familiar with the name Ron Roberts, you may know that Scott was his defensive coordinator. Roberts is known for using simulated pressures, mixing coverages between Quarters and Cover 2 — same as the Seahawks — and placing an overemphasis on communication and generating turnovers.

Coming from a team that lived in Nickel would be another positive. The 49ers were at their best this past season with Upton Stout on the field. It was the personnel they used the most, and the lowest success rate allowed was when Stout was on the field. Picking the brain of Scott, who just made rookie Nick Emmanwori go from borderline unplayable in coverage in college to a potential Rookie of the Year candidate, to see how to highlight a player like Stout, is one of the reasons you bring in a new, outside mind, like Scott.

That’s just one name. Perhaps Bradley has a couple of names he has in mind to bring in and get more out of the secondary. If the 49ers are going to take a step forward defensively, it’ll be because they make changes on the backend, both schematically and from a personnel perspective.

The 49ers finished with the fifth-fewest pass breakups in the NFL this past season, with 56. Seattle finished second with 40 more. The Seahawks also had 12 more interceptions as a team. In a copycat league, why not bring in somebody who has proven himself? The difference in Tariq Woolen year over year speaks for itself. Can you say the same for the Niners secondary? Not so much.

The lack of ball production has been noticeable for years, at both safety and cornerback. Expecting them to evolve under a 60-year-old defensive coordinator whose history suggests regression does not feel like taking a step forward as a franchise. Shanahan has an opportunity to change that. But will he?

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...nity-to-allow-the-49ers-to-evolve-defensively

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Kyle Shanahan interviews a trio of familiar faces for 49ers DC position

CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 30: Assistant head coach of defense Gus Bradley of the San Francisco 49ers looks on prior to a game against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on November 30, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

We’ve been waiting to see who the external interviews for the San Francisco 49ers’ vacant defensive coordinator position would be now that Robert Saleh is off to the AFC.

According to NBC Sports’ Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco, the 49ers have interviewed the following three candidates: Raheem Morris
Joe Woods
Gus Bradley

Kyle Shanahan has a history with each candidate. He was on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff with Morris back in 2004-05. He was also with Morris in Washington and Atlanta. The admiration for both coaches runs deep, but their history runs even deeper.

Woods was the defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator during the Super Bowl run in 2019. Since then, Woods served as the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator. Woods has a reputation for being a top-notch defensive back coach in the NFL, where he coached the Super Bowl-winning Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.

Would Woods be interested in returning as the defensive backs coach? That could also be what the interview was for, if Shanahan knows who his coordinator already is.

Bradley is the current associate head coach of the 49ers. He spoke about his history earlier on Thursday, suggesting that Shanahan has an opportunity to evolve rather than go with the obvious candidate, Bradley.

The 49ers could interview more candidates, but they already knocked out the Rooney Rule by interviewing two minority candidates and the potential “favorite,” suggesting Bradley is “the guy” until proven otherwise.

How do you feel about these candidates?

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...-trio-of-familiar-faces-for-49ers-dc-position