Coach Kyle Shanahan told NBC Sports Bay Area in a text message Monday that he has completed two official interviews for the 49ers’ defensive coordinator position and “should be done this week.”
The 49ers have completed interviews with former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley and 49ers defensive passing game specialist Nick Sorenson, Shanahan said.
The opening was created when Steve Wilkes was fired as defensive coordinator after one season with the 49ers. Wilkes replaces Houston Texans head coach Demeco Ryans.
49ers defensive backs coach Daniel Bullocks is expected to interview for the open position at the end of the week, Shanahan confirmed.
The 49ers are likely to interview at least two other coaches outside the building during the week, although Shanahan did not say which other outside candidates are being considered for the position.
NFL rules require clubs to interview at least two minority candidates for all coordinator positions.
Shanahan’s defensive coordinator search is in its second week since he announced his decision to end his partnership with Wilkes on Feb. 14.
The move came three days after the 49ers’ 25-22 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII.
“I feel strongly that this is the best decision for our organization,” Shanahan said in announcing the decision. Even though it’s something I don’t want to do, it’s something I have to do once I know that I think a different direction is best for an organization.
Shanahan and the 49ers’ coaching staff did not travel to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this week. General manager John Lynch and the scouting department are participating in the combine, while the coaches will remain in Santa Clara to continue their work.
Staley, 41, was fired after a 24-25 record, including 0-1, in three seasons as the Chargers’ head coach.
The Chargers hired Stalin in 2020 after he spent just one season as Sean McVay’s defensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams.
Staley’s only previous NFL coaching experience came as outside linebackers coach with Chicago (2017-18) and Denver (2019).
Sorensen, 45, originally joined the 49ers staff in 2022 as a defensive assistant. He developed into a specialist/nickel back in the defensive passing game last year.
Sorensen spent last season as the special teams coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Prior to his start with the Jaguars, Sorensen spent eight seasons on Pete Carroll’s staff with the Seattle Seahawks as a special teams assistant (2013-16), secondary coach (2017-19) and secondary coach/nickel specialist (2020).
Bullocks, 40, has been with the 49ers since Shanahan arrived in 2017. He started as an assistant defensive backs coach for two seasons before moving up to safeties coach from 2019 to ’22 before moving into his current role.
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