The San Francisco 49ers have lost defensive coordinator Robert Saleh to a head coaching position for the second time. And for the second time, they are in the midst of a search to replace him. Considering the ups and downs the 49ers' defense has dealt with over the last few years, finding the right person for the job is critical. This is especially true when you consider that the new defensive coordinator will be the fifth one in five years.
Here are four of the leading candidates to replace Saleh. These are in no particular order, though I am giving my prediction on who is the most likely and who is the least likely to get the job from this group.
1. Gus Bradley, 49ers Assistant Head Coach of the Defense
In his season-ending press conference with GM John Lynch, 49ers Head Coach Shanahan said that Bradley is the leading internal candidate. Does that also mean he's the leading candidate overall? Many fans of the team dislike the thought of the 49ers promoting Bradley. But some of that may be due to the bad experience of living through the Nick Sorensen experience. That was the last time the 49ers promoted a defensive coordinator from inside the building. It didn't go well. But the time before that, when Saleh left the first time, Shanahan promoted DeMeco Ryans. That worked out very well.
Bradley isn't Sorensen, though. He already has a proven track record as a defensive coordinator, getting his start in Seattle in 2009. He helped build one of the best defenses in the NFL, the Legion of Boom, before leaving to become the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2013. After that, he was the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers and had a good defense while he was there. But his last two stints as a DC (Raiders and Colts) didn't go as well. And that's what fans remember.
But Bradley is still a very good coach. In 2025, he was responsible for the 49ers' red zone defense, which was one of the more consistent areas of their defense. In his 12 seasons as a DC, Bradley has had a top-10 defense in yards allowed five times (and once as a head coach). He also had a top-5 one season. His 2012 Seattle defense was the top-ranked defense in points allowed. And his 2017 Chargers defense was number-three in points allowed. So, he knows what he's doing when it comes to coaching defense.
And Bradley is still receiving interest from other teams. NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler, of ESPN, wrote on Friday, "Tennessee might also have interest in Bradley, and he can't be blocked from leaving because he's not currently a coordinator. But Bradley staying in San Francisco seems like a sensible move at this point. Raheem Morris is also an attractive option there."
Because Bradley is already in the building and is one of the guys whom Saleh learned from, he seems to be the likeliest candidate.
2. K.J. Wright, 49ers Defensive Quality Control
Wright is considered another coach who could be on the fast track to becoming a head coach someday, the way Ryans was when he was in San Francisco. He knows the scheme the 49ers use, having played linebacker for 10 seasons in the system as part of the Seattle Seahawks, where in 2016, he was named to the Pro Bowl.
But Wright hasn't yet been a position coach. Ryans had been. And it seems unlikely that the 49ers would promote him to defensive coordinator before he's even served as a position coach. Perhaps Shanahan sees enough potential in Wright to believe he can handle it. But if so, how would Bradley handle being passed over by a player he once coached? That shouldn't matter, but it might.
Still, I'm not sure the 49ers will believe Wright is ready quite yet.
3. Raheem Morris, former Falcons head coach
It's no secret that Morris and Shanahan are close friends. The former Atlanta head coach has years of experience coaching in the NFL and has been a successful defensive coordinator, though his defenses haven't ranked as highly as the other experienced coordinators on this list.
Morris has never coached a defense that was in the top-10 in yards allowed, although he was the defensive coordinator of a Super Bowl champion, the 2021 Los Angeles Rams. His 2010 Tampa defense was ranked ninth in points allowed, but Morris was the head coach of that team.
Still, Morris is considered an excellent defensive mind who also understands how offenses work. Early in his career, Morris began attending offensive meetings to gain a better understanding of both sides of the ball. Shanahan, of course, is known to have attended defensive meetings early in his career for the same reason.
On Friday, the Falcons reportedly denied the 49ers' request to interview secondary coach Justin Hood. According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, the 49ers were interested in meeting with Hood to discuss "a high-ranking staff position." It most likely was not for the open defensive coordinator role, but it's interesting, nonetheless. Could this be a sign that Morris is the leading candidate?
Morris is probably the second-most likely candidate for the job to replace Saleh.
4. Jim Schwartz, Browns defensive coordinator
Schwartz, who has served as a defensive coordinator for 17 seasons and was a head coach for five seasons, is currently still employed by the Cleveland Browns as their defensive coordinator. He is interviewing for the Browns' head coach job. If Cleveland doesn't choose him, will he stay there to coach the defense? If he does, it's unlikely the 49ers would be able to pluck him away from the Browns.
But if he leaves, Shanahan would certainly be interested. Schwartz is an excellent defensive coordinator and has given Shanahan's offense fits in previous matchups. In his 17 seasons as a DC, Schwartz has had a top-10 defense (yards allowed) six times. His defenses have been top-5 five times, including being the top-ranked defense in 2023. Schwartz's 2008 Titans defense was second in points allowed, and two of his other defenses (2014 Bills and 2017 Eagles) ranked fourth in points allowed.
Schwartz would be my top choice, but I think he's unlikely to end up in San Francisco. He may end up being a head coach, or he might stay in Cleveland.
Which of these candidates will be the new defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers? My best bet is Bradley. But Morris is a close second. We should find out soon enough who it will be.