The San Francisco 49ers are on the search for a defensive coordinator once again after firing Nick Sorensen following just one season in that role.

The San Francisco 49ers aren’t wasting any time getting their defensive coordinator interviews done. On Thursday the team announced they completed two interviews for that position, including their former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, and Detroit Lions defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend.

Townsend is a former longtime Steelers cornerback who has managed secondaries across the NFL over the last decade. He has been a defensive backs coach for the Titans (2016-17), Giants (2018, assistant), Bears (2019-21), Jaguars (2022-23) and Lions (2024). The last two stops have included duties as the defensive passing game coordinator.