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 could bring back a former defensive coordinator who knows the team well, with the goal of helping veterans like Nick Bosa and others in the 2025 season. The San Francisco 49ers definitely need a boost on defense.

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.

But, could the 49ers also look to get creative with their defensive coordinator hire? Deshea Townsend would fit that bill. Look no further than his current stint, where he’s wor

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan gave Saleh his first defensive coordinator opportunity in 2017 during Shanahan’s first season at the helm in San Francisco. Saleh struggled out of the gate, but turned into one of the NFL’s best defensive coordinators and wound up getting a job as the Jets head coach after the 2020 campaign.

The 49ers announced the completion of interviews with former Jets' head coach Robert Saleh and Lions' passing game coordinator Deshea Townsend