DC Candidates with Saleh Gone

OnTheClock · 2026-01-20T04:36:37-08:00

There were too many openings, he was as good as gone. At least he went to the AFC. Obvious choice to me for continuity is Jim Schwartz. Raheem Morris if they tweak the system, he'll never get another HC job. Flores is a maybe. He's good but just another guy who could leave quickly. Gus Bradley should only be a last resort and hopefully that's why they brought him in, thinking we'd at least have someone if we made a deeper run and everyone else was gone. I think he johns Saleh if he's not selected.

Jan 20, 2026 at 4:43 AM

_Goldblooded_
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Posts: 13,822

Agree with these.

Schwartz will likely be retained by the new HC in Cleveland even if he himself doesn't get the job. He is still under contract so he isn't available unless a new HC want their own guy.

Would Flores just re-up in Minnesota if he doesn't get an HC gig?

Would we switch to a 3-4 for Morris?

[ Edited by _Goldblooded_ on Jan 20, 2026 at 5:57 AM ]

Jan 20, 2026 at 5:05 AM

JoseCortez
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Schwartz or morris.

what about McDermott?

Jan 20, 2026 at 5:15 AM

tohara3
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Are there any other young candidates worth looking into to groom as a DC also? Whether our staff our plucking another teams coach. Would love to get another guy who is more aggressive on defense, but will see what the front office decides

Jan 20, 2026 at 5:20 AM

Pillbusta
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Thing is this. SF is gonna be poached for coaches and scouts right up there with every other winning franchise. We get a ton of prime time games and we're constantly under the lights so as long as we have Shanahan some other team is gonna poach from his staff

That said we have Gus Bradley already and if no one else comes along that fits the bill he will be the guy and now we head to the draft and continue to load up on defense early and get some WR and OL help at guard while we're at it.

We have got to fortify the trenches and get more speed and explosiveness offensively

Jan 20, 2026 at 5:20 AM

Phoenix49ers
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Originally posted by tohara3:
Are there any other young candidates worth looking into to groom as a DC also? Whether our staff our plucking another teams coach. Would love to get another guy who is more aggressive on defense, but will see what the front office decides

Jim Leonhard, former Wisconsin DC and now Broncos defensive pass game specialist.

He would require a fairly radical shift in scheme but he is more of an aggressive type that loves to attack the run and pass, using a lot of deception and mixed fronts to throw offenses off.

Jan 20, 2026 at 5:21 AM

Pillbusta
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Posts: 25,696

Originally posted by tohara3:
Are there any other young candidates worth looking into to groom as a DC also? Whether our staff our plucking another teams coach. Would love to get another guy who is more aggressive on defense, but will see what the front office decides

KJ Wright can be groomed in house

Jan 20, 2026 at 5:30 AM

49ersFan_vienna
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Posts: 1,751

i want someone from outside.
As much as i like Saleh, during the season i got more and more annoyed by our scheme.
To be honest, i cant watch the Wide9 any more as we get run over constantly.

Bring in some outside perspective.
The two candidates i fear we will end with are the inhouse candidates - just serving Kyles will...

Jan 20, 2026 at 5:44 AM

Karma
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Posts: 1,190

Schwartz to me makes the most sense. Shanahan has expressed his respect for him in the past and they seemed particularly chummy after the game in Cleveland this year. Scheme continuity would be ideal and Schwartz would have autonomy over that side of the ball.

Morris would be a close second. He and Shanahan are very close friends and he might be the one guy to make Shanahan rethink the current defensive scheme.

Gus Bradley is very close to Saleh, so I could see him leaving with him. I could even see Mike McDaniel joining him as the OC.

I don't think this is the time to hire an inexperienced DC. I think they want an established guy who can rebuild the brand and style of the defense over the next few years.

Jan 20, 2026 at 5:52 AM

jreff22
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Schwartz.

Jan 20, 2026 at 5:56 AM

#10

Brucey72
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Would prefer Schwartz or Morris but I think it will be Bradley. Hopefully they keep Wright bc I think he will eventually be DC

Jan 20, 2026 at 5:59 AM

#11

_Goldblooded_
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Originally posted by JoseCortez:

what about McDermott?

I have seen his defense let the Bills down over and over again

Jan 20, 2026 at 6:00 AM

#12

NYniner85
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Literally half a dozen guys I'd be happy with besides Gus. Got Dave Lombardi in the twitter world talking about how awesome Bradley is…of course.

Jan 20, 2026 at 6:17 AM

#13

49ers81
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Posts: 2,853

Originally posted by 49ersFan_vienna:
i want someone from outside.
As much as i like Saleh, during the season i got more and more annoyed by our scheme.
To be honest, i cant watch the Wide9 any more as we get run over constantly.

Bring in some outside perspective.
The two candidates i fear we will end with are the inhouse candidates - just serving Kyles will...

I'm no expert, but that may be due more to not having the right players than the scheme. When they first started using it, I seem to recall they did pretty well against the run. There was one season where I think they went through almost the entire year without allowing a 100-yard rusher. Their run defense dropped off considerably this year when Fred Warner and Mykel Williams got hurt. They went from something like 6th to down in the 20s somewhere.

Jan 20, 2026 at 6:21 AM

#14

Koldo
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Posts: 5,583

It's a no brainer

Schwarzt or Morris