It's starting to look like Joe Woods' 2019 season with the San Francisco 49ers might be his only one. The team's passing-game coordinator and defensive backs coach is "on track" to become the new defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
49ers' DB coach Joe Woods is on track to become the Browns' next defensive coordinator if the two sides can agree to a contract, per sources.https://t.co/veCiwSBnYa
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 19, 2020
Woods would join new Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski's staff, assuming a deal can be worked out. The two worked together in Minnesota from 2006 through 2013.
The 49ers signed Woods to a one-year deal last year, which means he is free to speak with whomever he chooses and does not need San Francisco's permission to do so.
Woods has experience calling defensive plays. He spent two seasons (2017-18) as the Denver Broncos' defensive coordinator before joining Kyle Shanahan's 49ers staff a year ago. Woods was the Broncos' defensive backs coach before that (2015-16) and has previously served on the coaching staffs of the Oakland Raiders (2014), Minnesota Vikings (2006–13), and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2004–05).
Steve Wilks served as Cleveland's defensive coordinator during the 2019 season. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports that Wilks, another candidate for the job moving forward, has been informed he's out.
Last week, @JimTrotter_NFL reported it was down to Steve Wilks & #49ers DB coach & passing game coordinator Joe Woods for #Browns DC. W/ Wilks being told he's out, per clevelanddotcom, that prob means Woods. @AdamSchefter reports they're closing in on him.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) January 19, 2020