Niners Nation
The 49ers could be losing a key staffer very soon.
The San Francisco 49ers made one of the biggest coordinator splashes of the offseason when they hired former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh as their next defensive coordinator, reuniting the esteemed coach with the franchise.
Saleh, the 49ers defensive coordinator from 2017-20, had been involved with several head coaching openings this offseason, but ultimately transitioned back to a familiar role after those opportunities didn’t pan out.
For the 49ers, they looked to make a move for stability after struggles with their defensive coordinator role in each of the past two seasons, with players voicing frustrations at times during both years.
While Saleh was certainly welcomed in by the locker room, the move created questions about some of San Francisco’s defensive staffers, particularly assistant head coach Brandon Staley, who head coach Kyle Shanahan said was initially in consideration for the vacant defensive coordinator role.
Staley, a defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams back in 2020 before being the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers from 2021-23, has had significant experience in a playcalling role, but his impact was likely to be diminished with Saleh returning to the 49ers.
Well, it seems like Staley himself could be finding a new opportunity soon. Several reports have revealed that the former head coach is a serious candidate for the New Orleans Saints vacant defensive coordinator role.
The Saints hired Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore as their head coach on Tuesday, filling the last vacancy of the cycle. Moore has experience working with Staley, as he was the latter’s offensive coordinator with the Chargers in 2023 before being hired by the Eagles this past season.
If Staley were to leave, what would that mean for the 49ers?
Well, it feels like San Francisco has already prepared for the possibility, as they hired former Jacksonville Jaguars head coach and longtime NFL defensive coordinator Gus Bradley last Friday, with his role not being disclosed yet.
Bradley has extensive NFL experience, having been the defensive coordinator for the Chargers from 2017-20, for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021, and for the Indianapolis Colts since 2022. He and the Colts parted ways this offseason, leading him to be on the open market and to the 49ers after no defensive coordinator role opened up.
Overall, it feels like Bradley is the Staley replacement, which is why it wouldn't be surprising to see him earn the assistant head coaching title if/once the latter leaves for the Saints defensive coordinator job.
Bradley has worked with Robert Saleh when the former was the defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks and the latter was a defensive quality control coach. Additionally, when Bradley was the head coach in Jacksonville, he took Saleh with him to be the team’s linebackers coach from 2014-16.
Being a disciple of that Seattle defense, Bradley even seems like a potential succession plan for if/when Saleh gets head coaching interviews, which probably happens once again next...
