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Coach Kyle Shanahan has completed two official interviews for the 49ers defensive coordinator job and “should get it all done this week,” he told NBC Sports Bay Area via text message Monday.
The 49ers have completed interviews with former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley and 49ers defensive passing game specialist Nick Sorensen, Shanahan said.
The opening was created when Steve Wilks was fired as defensive coordinator after just one season with the 49ers. Wilks replaced DeMeco Ryans, who became the head coach of the Houston Texans.
Daniel Bullocks, the 49ers’ defensive backs coach, is expected to interview for the vacant position later in the week, Shanahan confirmed.
The 49ers are likely to interview at least two other coaches from outside the building later in the week, although Shanahan did not reveal which other outside candidates are being considered for the job.
NFL rules require clubs to interview at least two minority candidates for all coordinator positions.
Shanahan’s search for a defensive coordinator is in its second week after he informed Wilks on Feb. 14 of his decision to end their union.
The move was made three days after the 49ers’ 25-22 overtime loss in Super Bowl LVIII to the Kansas City Chiefs.
“I felt strongly that this was the best decision for our organization,” Shanahan explained in announcing his decision. “And even though it was something I didn’t want to do, it was something that once I realized that I think a different direction is best for the organization, then it’s something I have to do.”
Shanahan and the 49ers coaching staff will again not travel to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this week. General manager John Lynch and the scouting department will attend the combine while the coaches remain in Santa Clara to continue their work.
Staley, 41, was fired after compiling a 24-25 record, including 0-1 in the playoffs, in three seasons as the Chargers’ head coach.
The Chargers hired Staley in 2020 after spending just one season as Sean McVay’s defensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams.
Staley’s only previous coaching experience in the NFL was as an outside linebackers coach with Chicago (2017-18) and Denver (2019).
Sorensen, 45, originally joined the 49ers staff in 2022 in the defensive assistant position. He was promoted to defensive passing game specialist/nickel backs last year.
Sorensen spent last season as special teams coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Prior to his time with the Jaguars, Sorensen spent eight seasons on Pete Carroll’s staff with the Seattle Seahawks as a special teams assistant (2013-16), secondary coach (2017-19) and secondary coach/nickel specialist ( 2020).
Bullocks, 40, has been with the 49ers since Shanahan arrived in 2017. He started as assistant defensive backs coach for two seasons before moving to safeties coach from 2019-2022 before assuming his current role.
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