San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan addressed reporters on Saturday following the team's final practice before their Monday night primetime matchup against the Detroit Lions. With the 49ers enduring a disappointing 2024 season, questions have emerged about whether Shanahan might seek his third defensive coordinator in as many years.
However, Shanahan used the opportunity to reaffirm his confidence in first-year defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen despite the team's struggles.
"I think Nick has done a good job as a coach," Shanahan said. "No one's happy with our results by any means. I think he's been thrown in a number of situations that I think will make him better going forward."
Shanahan expressed optimism that Sorensen's challenging first year in the role will be a valuable learning experience. Sorensen, who joined the 49ers in 2022 as a defensive assistant following coaching stints with the Seattle Seahawks and Jacksonville Jaguars, has faced his share of adversity this season. Injuries have plagued the team, and the defense has not been spared from their impact.
The head coach also highlighted instances in which Sorensen has been able to adapt during games, even under challenging circumstances.
"I've watched him adjust to a bunch of different situations, kind of be in a couple of situations on a couple games when there wasn't much of an answer, and he still had to try to find one," Shanahan said. "So, I think this year was good for him, and I know he's going to be a good coach and better for it going forward."