When you’re a talented team like the San Francisco 49ers who continue assembling one of the best coaching staffs in the NFL, you’re bound to have changeover from one year to the next. Last year, the 49ers lost defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans to the Houston Texans, where he accepted a promotion as their new head coach.

This offseason, the 49ers moved on from Steve Wilks after being disappointed by Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. While Wilks had plenty of experience, including stints as an NFL head coach, one of the 49ers new hires does too.

San Francisco 49ers add Brandon Staley, hire Nick Sorenson as defensive coordinator

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler, the San Francisco 49ers have promoted their defensive passing game specialist Nick Sorenson to defensive coordinator, where he’ll also have play-calling duties.

Sorenson will also be joined by former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley, who will be filling an unknown role. His duties could even include being the team’s new assistant head coach.

After wrapping up a ten-season playing career in 2010, Sorenson got into coaching and has been with the 49ers since 2022. Now, he’ll be tasked with running one of the best defenses in the NFL. Yet, having Staley by his side should make Sorenson’s transition much smoother.