San Francisco 49ers might not have to worry about losing defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans this offseason. According to NFL Media's Tom Pelissero, the coach declined a second interview with the Minnesota Vikings, opting instead to remain with the 49ers.
This news follows reports of the Vikings pursuing current Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, who served as the 49ers head coach from 2011-14.
#49ers DC DeMeco Ryans declined a second interview with the #Vikings, per source, opting to further his development in San Francisco.
So four remain in Minnesota's head coaching search: #Rams OC Kevin O'Connell and DC Raheem Morris, #Giants DC Patrick Graham and Jim Harbaugh. https://t.co/gNRjqHExYf
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 1, 2022
The Vikings interviewed Ryans on January 23, and there was a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter that the Las Vegas Raiders were also interested in speaking with the 49ers coach.
Ryans is in his first year as a defensive coordinator. He took over the job after the departure of Robert Saleh, who left San Francisco last year to become the head coach of the New York Jets. Before that, Ryans served as the team's linebackers coach from 2018-2020 after serving one year (2017) as a defensive quality control coach.
The 49ers defense ranked No. 3 in total yards allowed, No. 6 in passing yards allowed, No. 7 in rushing yards allowed, and No. 10 in points allowed this past season. It allowed just 27 total points in playoff games against the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers before allowing 20 in an NFC Championship loss to the Los Angeles Rams.