JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 21: A San Francisco 49ers helmet on the bench during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on November 21, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
The San Francisco 49ers may reportedly look towards hiring a former NFL head coach as their new defensive coordinator.

On Wednesday, head coach Kyle Shanahan fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks following a heartbreaking loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 58. Wilks spent one season in the position, replacing DeMeco Ryans after the latter left in 2023 for the Houston Texans’ head coaching vacancy.

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, some around the NFL believe that former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley could be hired as the 49ers’ new defensive coordinator:
“Few believe that 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks without having an idea as to the identity of his successor. Some around the league think Shanahan will eventually hire former Rams defensive coordinator and Chargers head coach Brandon Staley…

There’s no indication yet that Shanahan will even interview Staley. He’s arguably the best available option at this stage of the offseason — unless Shanahan can get the godfather of the Seattle defense, Pete Carroll, is willing to take the job and if Shanahan wants him. Or unless Bill Belichick or Mike Vrabel would want the job.

We’ll see how it plays out. For now, however, we’re keeping an eye on Staley, because some people in league circles believe it eventually will be him.”

The Los Angeles Rams fielded the best defense in football during the 2020 season, Staley’s lone year there as the defensive coordinator.

Staley’s success there landed him the Los Angeles Chargers’ head coaching vacancy, and he got off to a promising start by leading them to consecutive winning seasons (9-8 in 2021, 10-7) in 2022.

However, the Chargers never recovered from their collapse against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Wild Card Round. The Bolts led 27-0 in that game and wound up losing 31-30 despite not turning the ball over once.

The Chargers fired Staley following a disappointing 5-9 start, and Giff Smith finished the year as the team’s interim HC.