SHOPPING FOR A NEW DC

With the imminent departure of Robert Saleh during the offseason to a head coaching position elsewhere in the NFL, the 49ers will find themselves searching for a new defensive coordinator for the first time since 2017. With the defensive talent the 49ers have on hand, and San Francisco possessing a playoff-ready roster and one of the NFL’s most respected coaching staffs, the position will be attractive to a wide variety of candidates, including several veteran coaches who have had previous success in the league. Here’s a look at some top candidates who could be in the running to become San Francisco’s new DC in 2021.

- Craig Massei

Kris Kocurek: If the 49ers are looking to promote from within, Kocurek might be the most logical candidate for a smooth transition, if the team indeed feels he is ready. A veteran of 11 seasons as an NFL assistant, Kocurek joined the 49ers as defensive line coach in 2019, and that unit immediately made the jump to become one of the most fearsome defensive fronts in the NFL. That might not just be a coincidence, and that’s a feather in Kocurek’s cap. Kocurek already has an understanding of San Francisco’s defensive strengths and weaknesses and his rapport with San Francisco’s defensive linemen could only be further maximized. And, like Saleh, Kocurek’s fiery personality wouldn’t be lost on players, though some might consider it a little bit too rah-rah.