The San Francisco 49ers officially hired former Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Joe Woods, who will coach the Niners' defensive backs and coordinate the team's pass defense in 2019.
On Thursday, the San Francisco 49ers officially announced the previously rumored hiring of former Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Joe Woods. Woods, who was the defensive backs coach for the Broncos prior to his two-year stint as defensive coordinator in Denver, will serve two roles for his new team. The 49ers announced Woods' official title will be "defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator."
Woods will replace San Francisco's former defensive backs coach Jeff Hafley, who left the team earlier this month for a co-defensive coordinator position at Ohio State. The 49ers did not have a passing game coordinator in 2018.
Mike Garafolo of NFL Network first reported that the 49ers would add Woods to their coaching staff on Tuesday:
The #49ers are hiring Joe Woods, longtime DBs coach and most recently the #Broncos' defensive coordinator, source says. He'll be the passing game coordinator for DC Robert Saleh and HC Kyle Shanahan.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 15, 2019
Woods previously worked with Kyle Shanahan as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' coaching staff from 2004 to 2005, which the 49ers' head coach noted in an official press release from the team earlier this afternoon:
"In addition to being a tremendous coach with a wealth of knowledge, Joe is a great person that we believe will help bring the best out of our players," said Head Coach Kyle Shanahan. "Since we first worked together in Tampa, Joe has continued to gain invaluable experience in different schemes and coverages that will benefit our defense. Anybody who is familiar with Joe as a coach knows that he is passionate about the fundamentals of the game and we look forward to seeing the impact he has on our team."
Following his time in Tampa Bay, Woods spent his next eight seasons in the NFL as the defensive backs coach for the Minnesota Vikings before working in the same role with the Oakland Raiders in 2014.