49ers Fire Defensive Coordinator Nick Sorensen After Struggling Season

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers have parted ways with defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen after just one season, marking the fourth defensive coordinator change in five years under head coach Kyle Shanahan. The decision comes after a disappointing 2024 season in which the 49ers finished with a 6-11 record, ranking among the league’s worst defenses.

The 49ers’ defense struggled significantly under Sorensen, allowing the fourth-most points in the NFL (25.6 per game) and failing to generate turnovers. Over their final seven games, the team recorded zero interceptions and recovered just one fumble in their last 11 games. The unit also allowed a season-high 47 points in their final game, further highlighting their struggles.

“It’s not good enough. It’s hard to win games when you’re in the minus all the time or you’re just not taking the ball away,” Sorensen said last week. “We haven’t done our part there pretty much half the season.”

Among the potential candidates to replace Sorensen are Jeff Ulbrich, former interim head coach of the New York Jets; Gus Bradley, former defensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts; and Robert Saleh, who previously served as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2020. Saleh, who was recently fired as head coach of the Jets, is also being considered for the Jacksonville Jaguars‘ head coaching position.

Linebacker Fred Warner acknowledged the team’s defensive shortcomings but also defended Sorensen, stating, “As a coach, you have to be the one to hold the players accountable, and I felt he did that. It’s his first season. He’s got to look back and see where he could have been better in his role, but as players, we’ve got to be way better this year.”

The 49ers’ defense struggled particularly against the run, allowing 24 rushing touchdowns and 124.6 yards per game. The pass defense ranked eighth in yards allowed but lacked impact plays, with Nick Bosa and Leonard Floyd combining for 17.5 sacks and only four interceptions recorded by the entire team.

Sorensen, who previously served as a defensive assistant and worked with the defensive backs under former coordinator Steve Wilks, could remain on Shanahan’s staff in a different role. The 49ers are now tasked with finding a new defensive leader to restore the unit’s former dominance.