Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated speculated last month that Quinn might have been a possibility to replace Robert Saleh as the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator. Over the past week, five NFL teams interviewed Saleh for head-coaching jobs, including the Falcons, Detroit Lions, and Los Angeles Chargers.
"There are some interesting potential coordinator openings across the NFL, and one question is what San Francisco will do if Robert Saleh lands a head coaching job," Breer wrote in December. "I've heard ex-Falcons coach Dan Quinn's name raised for that DC job, should Saleh bolt, and current Falcons interim coach Raheem Morris is another name that can be tied to Kyle Shanahan."
Quinn was the head coach in Atlanta during Shanahan's two-year stint there as offensive coordinator.
One possible replacement for Saleh, should the coordinator become a head coach, could be 49ers linebackers coach DeMeco Ryans, who has been with the team since 2017.
"It's only a matter of time before DeMeco is a coordinator in this league," Shanahan said last week. "It's a matter of time before DeMeco will be a head coach."
Ryans spent 10 seasons as an NFL linebacker with the Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles, was selected to two Pro Bowls, and was named a first-team All-Pro in 2007.
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
NFL execs: 49ers could use in-season Mac Jones trade to bolster roster
The San Francisco 49ers never seriously entertained the idea of trading quarterback Mac Jones, especially after he stepped in for an injured Brock Purdy last season and helped keep the offense on track. However, with Jones entering the final year of his contract, 2026 could... -
49ers go in a different direction in 2025 NFL Draft do-over
The San Francisco 49ers used the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on defensive lineman Mykel Williams. While Williams flashed potential during his rookie season, his early development took a setback when he suffered a torn ACL, ending his campaign... -
49ers game manager? Alex Smith pushes back on Brock Purdy narrative
No matter what Brock Purdy accomplishes, there always seem to be critics ready to dismiss his success by claiming he's simply a product of the San Francisco 49ers' system. The "game manager" label has followed the 26-year-old quarterback throughout much of his NFL career. One... -
Ochocinco weighs in on the 49ers-Brandon Aiyuk drama
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk made headlines over the weekend with a series of eyebrow-raising moves, including sharing photos of himself wearing a Washington Commanders hat and posting messages that appeared to take aim at his current team. It's clear that...