The San Francisco 49ers are in the process of building their 2025 coaching staff. According to The Athletic’s Mike Silver, after a series of reports yesterday, the team is set to hire Robert Saleh as defensive coordinator. Saleh’s return to San Francisco has thrilled fans and staff alike, as he was the team’s top target throughout the offseason. Head coach Kyle Shanahan was committed to bringing Saleh back from the moment the decision was made to overhaul the coaching staff.
Saleh is expected to adopt a head-coaching-style approach to running the defense. With that in mind, he is assembling his own group of assistant coaches, which has led to significant changes within the 49ers’ existing staff.
49ers Making Surprising Coaching Changes
San Francisco began its staff shake-up by firing special teams coordinator Brian Schneider shortly after Week 18. The team initially considered multiple replacements but leaned toward retaining former defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen in the role.
However, with Saleh’s return, that plan has changed.
According to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco, the 49ers will not name Sorensen as the special teams coordinator, and he is not expected to remain with the team.
Sorensen joined the 49ers’ coaching staff in 2022, starting as a defensive assistant before quickly making an impact. He led the “attack the ball” drills, helping San Francisco achieve a league-leading 65 takeaways from 2022 to 2023.
Despite his contributions, Sorensen’s promotion to defensive coordinator was ultimately viewed as a misstep. His defense struggled with inconsistency, often losing leads late in games. While Shanahan initially planned to keep Sorensen on the staff for 2025, Saleh’s return has shifted the team’s direction.
Maiocco reports that the 49ers interviewed Brant Boyer for the vacant special teams coordinator position.
Seen as a direct response to Sorensen’s departure, Boyer brings 13 years of NFL special teams coaching experience. After starting as an assistant with the Indianapolis Colts in 2012, he became the New York Jets’ special teams coordinator in 2016. Most notably, Boyer worked under Saleh from 2021 to 2024.
Whether Sorensen opted against another demotion or left voluntarily, Saleh’s influence is evident in the move. Saleh’s familiarity with Boyer and Boyer’s proven track record make him a strong candidate to fill the role.
Another Coach Bites the Dust
On his YouTube channel, Maiocco shared another significant development regarding the 49ers’ coaching staff. He revealed that assistant head coach Brandon Staley is unlikely to return in 2025.
“I’m hearing that he probably will not be back with the 49ers, as basically, Robert Saleh comes in, and he’s going to be, in essence, the head coach of the defense. He’s going to run that defense, and so Brandon Staley doesn’t appear as if he’ll be back with the 49ers.”
Staley was viewed as San Francisco’s fallback option if Saleh had taken a head coaching job elsewhere. He also coached nickelbacks and received high praise from cornerback Deommodore Lenoir for his work with the secondary. Despite his contributions, Staley now appears to be on his way out.
As the 49ers transition their defensive leadership from Sorensen to Saleh, fans can expect more coaching changes in the near future.
