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

49ers Reveal Defensive Coordinator Candidates

Jan 30, 2026
They break down the leading candidates for San Francisco's defensive coordinator job and trace coaching ties to Kyle Shanahan. Listeners get comparisons of coaching resumes, scheme fit concerns, and who might be promoted or repurposed on the staff. The conversation then pivots to the team’s persistent injury problems, training staff responsibility, and practice intensity as possible causes.
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INSIGHT

Three Strong Defensive Candidates

  • The 49ers interviewed Gus Bradley, Raheem Morris, and Joe Woods for defensive coordinator.
  • Kyle Shanahan appears to favor experienced coaches with prior ties to him or the staff.
ANECDOTE

Early Tampa Bay Coaching Ties

  • Joe Woods coached with Kyle Shanahan in Tampa Bay in 2004-2005 and they share an early-career connection.
  • That shared history helps explain Woods' presence in the 49ers' interview process.
INSIGHT

Gus Bradley's Scheme Question

  • Gus Bradley's cover-three history may clash with modern league tendencies and the 49ers' evolving scheme.
  • His candidacy likely depends on his willingness to adapt schemes and coordinate with the existing front and staff.
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