Niners Nation
After a rookie season that included a Super Bowl interception, 49ers safety Ji’Ayir Brown took a step back in 2024.
Ji’Ayir Brown appeared set to develop into a critical piece of the 49ers’ defense following an encouraging rookie season for the 2023 third-round pick.
Brown excelled after being inserted into the lineup following the season-ending knee injury suffered by Talanoa Hufanga, and displayed instincts and athleticism on his third-quarter interception of Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl.
Yet the step forward most anticipated after his performances across seven starts in the regular season and postseason as a rookie did not materialise.
Indeed, Brown was in and out of the lineup following Hufanga’s return, with his performances in marked contrast to those of Malik Mustapha as their fourth-rounder shone as a rookie.
Brown missed this year’s OTAs and minicamp after having ankle surgery, with the former Penn State star indicating his injury in that area was a factor in his sophomore slump.
“It was something that bothered me throughout the season,” Brown said of the injury in a press conference on Thursday.
“My mindset was where it should’ve been. I think it was other factors that played that wouldn’t allow me to play to my full potential, that I know I can play at. My standards are pretty high, and I fell short of that.”
But perhaps a more signifcant reason for his 2024 struggles concerned a change in coaching staff.
Brown was a draft pick made with Steve Wilks in his first and ultimately only season as defensive coordinator. After some questionable play-calling to end the Super Bowl, Wilks was fired and eventually replaced by Nick Sorensen, with the defense suffering a significant drop-off amid substantial injury issues. Sorensen was not retained, with Robert Saleh returning this season for a second spell as defensive coordinator.
For Brown, the switch was clearly an issue that hindered his development.
“Steve Wilks was one of my guys,” Brown added. “Was different going into my second year with a new DC. Different style, different messages, but yeah, just different.”
It might sound like a poor excuse, but there’s reason to believe Brown when he hints that the move to Sorensen was a progress stopper.
Despite his faults in calling blitzes at questionable times and being a bad fit in terms of communication with some 49ers players, Wilks is an extremely experienced coach with a background of working extensively with defensive backs. Though position coach Daniel Bullocks works more directly with players than the defensive coordinator, it makes sense that going from a coach of Wilks’ pedigree to a first-time coordinator in Sorensen will have made for a challenging transition for Brown.
This year, Saleh has described the competition at safety as “wide open”, but Brown can be considered a favorite to start with Mustapha on the sidelines as he recovers from the torn ACL he suffered in January.
And with Saleh back calling the plays in a system that is built around the philosophy...
