Credited from: APNEWS
Santa Clara, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers have officially terminated defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen's contract after just one lackluster season, according to sources familiar with the situation (source: AP News). Additionally, special teams coordinator Brian Schneider has also been relieved of his duties as part of a broader restructuring following the team's disappointing 6-11 record, missing the playoffs.
This decision marks the third consecutive offseason where the 49ers have changed defensive coordinators; this trend began when DeMeco Ryans left to become the head coach of the Houston Texans after the 2021 season. Last year, Steve Wilks was appointed and helped lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl, but was dismissed due to a lack of alignment with the team's player roster, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan (source: SFGate).
Promoted from his previous role overseeing the team's secondary, Sorensen struggled to replicate the defensive effectiveness seen under Ryans. This past season, the 49ers ranked 29th in scoring defense, conceding an average of 25.6 points per game, and managed only 17 turnovers, tying for the seventh-fewest in the league. Notably, they recorded just two takeaways in the final nine games and suffered the ignominy of allowing at least 40 points in consecutive games for the first time since 2015.
Injuries to significant players, including Nick Bosa and Talanoa Hufanga, compounded the team's struggles, further impacting Sorensen’s defensive schemes.
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