The San Francisco 49ers are promoting Nick Sorensen to defensive coordinator and adding former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley to their staff, ESPN reported on Saturday.
Staley, fired by the Chargers in December, reportedly will be assistant head coach under Kyle Shanahan.
Sorensen, 45, has served as the 49ers’ defensive pass game specialist and nickel cornerbacks coach. He will step into the defensive coordinator role previously held by Steve Wilks, who was fired three days after San Francisco lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII.
Sorensen also has been the special teams coordinator with the Jacksonville Jaguars and a defensive backs coach with the Seattle Seahawks.
Staley, 41, previous served as the defensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams in 2020 before spending the two-plus seasons with the Chargers. He was 24–24 with the Chargers.
Wilks was hired last year to replace DeMeco Ryans, who left to become the head coach of the Houston Texans.
Wilks’ defense held the Chiefs to one touchdown in regulation in the 25–22 Super Bowl loss but gave up 455 yards. San Francisco allowed an NFC-low 17.5 points per game during the regular season.
