Regardless of what San Francisco 49ers passing-game coordinator and defensive backs coach Joe Woods decides to do with his NFL future, he stands to get a nice pay raise. Woods is reportedly the Cleveland Browns' top choice for defensive coordinator, but his current team may not be willing to simply let him walk away after one season.
Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune reports that the 49ers are making a late push to keep the valuable assistant on head coach Kyle Shanahan's staff.
As Kevin Stefanski sets his initial staff in Cleveland, source said the 49ers are making a late push to keep DB coach/passing game coordinator Joe Woods, who was with the Vikings from 2006-13. Woods has been the favorite to land as the Browns' DC.
— Ben Goessling (@GoesslingStrib) January 23, 2020
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski and Woods spent eight seasons together as assistants in Minnesota from 2006 through 2013.
The 49ers are preparing to play the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV. San Francisco's defense finished the regular season as the league's No. 2 ranked unit overall and No. 1 against the pass, allowing just 169.2 passing yards per game. Woods has been considered a key factor in the pass defense's success this season.
Why would Woods even consider passing on a defensive coordinator job to stay in San Francisco? One Twitter user had an interesting theory.
Here's the real scenario:
Browns - Become DC in 2020.
49ers - Stay on as DB coach in 2020. Saleh gets HC job for 2021. Woods is promoted to DC.
I'll tell you which one I'd take, but I think it's obvious.
— Tyler Competente (@Competente13) January 23, 2020
H/t to Patrick Tulini for the find.