The San Francisco 49ers have promoted DeMeco Ryans, who had served as the team's defensive quality control coach, to inside linebackers coach. It was the position that Ken Norton Jr. was initially given -- along with the title of assistant head coach -- but he left the 49ers after a week on the job to become the defensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks. News of Ryans' promotion came from 49ers general manager John Lynch on Wednesday.
In January, the 49ers blocked a request by the Tennessee Titans to interview Ryans, who is a former NFL linebacker. He joined 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan's staff on February 21, 2017, which was a year after his release by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Ryans was selected by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2006 draft and went on to spend 10 seasons in the league. He appeared in 140 games, starting 139, and registered 735 tackles, 46 passes defensed, 13.5 sacks, 10 fumble recoveries, and seven interceptions.
During Ryans' career, he earned AP Defensive Rookie of the Year (2006) and first-team All-Pro (2007) honors in addition to being named to two Pro Bowls (2007, 2009).