SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers initiated their quest for a new defensive coordinator on Thursday by conducting interviews with Robert Saleh, a previous coordinator for the team, and Deshea Townsend, an assistant with the Detroit Lions.
The 49ers made the decision to part ways with Nick Sorensen earlier this week after just one season in this position. This latest move marks the team’s search for its fourth defensive coordinator in as many years. DeMeco Ryans departed after his second season in 2022 to take on the head coaching role for the Houston Texans, while Steve Wilks faced dismissal following the 2023 season after leading the team to the Super Bowl.
The 49ers experienced a decline in defensive performance during Sorensen’s tenure, as a series of injuries plagued the unit’s ability to force turnovers, effectively stop the run, and consistently pressure the opposing quarterback. For this season, San Francisco ranked 29th in the league for scoring defense, permitting an average of 25.6 points per game, and was joint-seventh for the fewest takeaways with just 17. Notably, the team managed only two takeaways in their last nine games and concluded the season with two consecutive games conceding at least 40 points, a first for the franchise since 2015.
Continuity in system has been evident over the years as the 49ers have maintained a similar defensive approach that originated during Saleh’s time as coordinator from 2017 to 2020. Despite this, coach Kyle Shanahan expressed a desire for a new coordinator who can adjust the defensive scheme to suit the current players better.
Saleh previously contributed to crafting one of the league’s most formidable defenses before becoming the head coach for the New York Jets. Initially, his first two seasons were challenging, but the defensive unit took a significant leap forward in 2019 with the selection of defensive end Nick Bosa and the execution of the “wide nine” alignment, which allowed edge rushers to position themselves wider and concentrate on penetrating the backfield. Subsequently, the 49ers reached the Super Bowl during the 2019 season and maintained strong performance even when Bosa was sidelined for most of the following year due to a knee injury.
Despite being terminated midway through the current season, Saleh’s defense with the Jets had shown promising capability. He is also being considered for potential head coaching opportunities. On the other hand, Townsend has just completed his first year as the passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Lions, following two seasons in a similar role with the Jacksonville Jaguars. His impressive resume includes coaching stints with the Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, New York Giants, and Chicago Bears, alongside a successful 13-year playing career.
During his playing days, Townsend recorded 21 interceptions and was integral to two Super Bowl-winning defenses with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2005 and 2008 seasons. Notably, the Lions’ defense led the NFL this season by allowing the lowest passer rating at 82.0, a decrease from the 91.5 they allowed in the previous year.
Under NFL regulations, Townsend’s interview was conducted virtually, as coaches currently under contract are not permitted to have in-person interviews until January 20. This process is part of the Rooney Rule, which mandates that teams interview at least two diverse candidates from outside their organization before finalizing a coordinator appointment.
