Coach Kyle Shanahan has conducted two official interviews for the 49ers' defensive coordinator position and “should have everything done this week,” he told NBC Sports Bay Area via text message on Monday.
The 49ers have conducted interviews with former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley and 49ers defensive passing specialist Nick Sorensen, Shanahan said.
The opening came about when Steve Wilks was fired as defensive coordinator after just one season with the 49ers. Wilks replaced DeMeco Ryans, who became the head coach of the Houston Texans.
Shanahan confirmed that 49ers defensive backs coach Daniel Bullocks is expected to interview for the vacant position later in the week.
The 49ers are likely to interview at least two more coaches from outside the building later in the week, although Shanahan did not reveal what 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 search for a defensive coordinator is now in its second week after informing Wilks of his decision to end their union on Feb. 14.
The move came three days after the 49ers' 25-22 overtime loss in Super Bowl LVIII to the Kansas City Chiefs.
“I firmly believed this was the best decision for our organization,” Shanahan said in announcing his decision. “And even though it was something I didn't want to do, it was something I had to do once I realized that I thought a different direction was best for the organization.”
Shanahan and the 49ers coaching staff will once again not be traveling to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this week. General manager John Lynch and the scouting department are on site while the coaches remain in Santa Clara to continue their work.
Staley, 41, was fired after compiling a 24-25 record in three seasons as the Chargers' head coach, including 0-1 in the playoffs.
The Chargers hired Staley 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 an outside linebackers coach with Chicago (2017-18) and Denver (2019).
The 45-year-old Sorensen originally joined the 49ers team in 2022 as a defensive assistant. Last year he was promoted to Defensive Passing Game Specialist/Nickel Backs.
Sorensen served as the special teams coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars last season.
Prior to his time with the Jaguars, Sorensen spent eight seasons on Pete Carroll's Seattle Seahawks staff 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's arrival in 2017. He started as an assistant defensive backs coach for two seasons before moving to safeties coach from 2019 to 2022 before assuming his current role.
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