Finding a new defensive coordinator wasn’t supposed to be on the 49ers’ 2024 offseason to-do list. Alas, the club parted ways with defensive coordinator Steve Wilks and created a leadership vacuum on that side of the ball.
One of the club’s interviews for the position was former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley. While he didn’t land the DC job, which went to internal candidate Nick Sorensen, Staley did snag an assistant head coach job that has him focusing on the defensive side of the ball. That addition could give the 49ers’ defense a massive lift.
Part of Staley’s early training camp work has come specifically in the secondary where he was working one-on-one with cornerback Deommodore Lenoir.
Lenoir, a rising star in the 49ers’ secondary, was asked about his work with Staley in an interview with Markus Boucher and John Dickinson on KNBR. He
“He’s a genius,” Lenoir said. “It’s like having Kyle (Shanahan) on defense. Just the knowledge that he brings to the room, and how much guys respect him, respect his word when he speaks. It’s a blessing for him to be here with us.”
That’s high praise considering how well-known Shanahan is for his IQ on the offensive side of the ball. Part of the reason he’s able to have success on offense is because of his understanding of how defenses work.
If Staley can provide a similar impact as a defensive coach with a deep knowledge of how modern NFL offenses want to attack, it could give Sorensen and his defense a sizable advantage on game days. Combining that level of thinking with the talent the 49ers have could rapidly launch San Francisco’s defense back to the top of the league after an up-and-down 2023 campaign.