Did the 49ers move on from a longtime defensive coach?

The San Francisco 49ers may have quietly parted ways with a longtime member of their defensive coaching staff. Defensive backs coach and defensive passing game specialist Daniel Bullocks, who has been with the organization since Kyle Shanahan took over as head coach in 2017, no longer appears on the team's official coaching staff page.

Bullocks has served in his current role since 2019, working closely with the 49ers' secondary. His apparent departure was first noted by Dieter Kurtenbach of the Bay Area News Group and KNBR, who pointed out Bullocks' absence from the team website.

Kurtenbach also noted that the 49ers recently requested permission to interview Atlanta Falcons secondary coach Justin Hood, a request that was ultimately denied. At the time, it was unclear what role San Francisco was targeting. NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero described the opening only as a "high-ranking staff position," leaving room for speculation.

One possibility is that the 49ers were exploring a potential replacement for Bullocks. San Francisco already has Ray Brown on staff as its cornerbacks coach, and he just completed his first season with the team, which could signal a restructuring of the defensive coaching roles.

The timing is notable, as the 49ers are also searching for a new defensive coordinator after Robert Saleh departed to become the head coach of the Tennessee Titans.

San Francisco's pass defense struggled during the 2025 season. The 49ers ranked No. 25 in passing yards allowed and No. 21 in passing touchdowns allowed. The defense recorded just six interceptions, tied for the second-fewest in the NFL, ahead of only the New York Jets, who finished with zero.

Pro Football Focus also reflected those struggles, as the 49ers earned a 47.1 coverage grade, ranking No. 25 in the league.

H/t to Kyle Madson of Niners Wire for the find.