Locked On 49ers - Daily Podcast On The San Francisco 49ers

SURPRISE: Jim Schwartz IN PLAY for San Francisco 49ers as Defensive Coordinator

Jan 29, 2026
A surprise coaching development puts veteran Jim Schwartz in play as a potential defensive coordinator. Discussion highlights his wide-nine front, heavy man coverage tendencies, and track record as a top coordinator. Hosts debate fit with current personnel, pass-rush dependence, and other candidates like Raheem Morris and Gus Bradley.
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INSIGHT

Schwartz Suddenly Available For Niners

  • Jim Schwartz just left the Browns after being passed over for a head-coach hire and told colleagues he wouldn't return.
  • That sudden availability makes him an obvious candidate for the 49ers' defensive coordinator opening.
INSIGHT

Stability Through A Veteran Coordinator

  • Brian Peacock frames Schwartz as the kind of veteran coordinator who might settle into a long-term DC role rather than chase head jobs.
  • That stability could end the 49ers' recent carousel of five straight different defensive coordinators.
ANECDOTE

Harbaugh Slap Moment Recalled

  • Eric Crocker recalled Jim Harbaugh running across the field to slap Schwartz after a game, leaving Schwartz visibly irate.
  • The hosts used the moment to illustrate Schwartz's intense personality and past confrontations with the 49ers.
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