The San Francisco 49ers struck gold (sorry) by replacing Robert Saleh with DeMeco Ryans. Replacing a widely sought-after defensive coordinator with another who delivers is no easy task. Ryans turned his time as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator into a head coaching job with the Houston Texans. Since Ryans’s departure, the 49ers employed two different defensive coordinators in as many seasons.
Steve Wilks and Nick Sorensen were one and done, and the 49ers were back to searching for their stable, permanent defensive coordinator this offseason.
Saleh became available again following a stint as the New York Jets head coach and consultant with the Green Bay Packers with his old friend Matt LaFleur.