Nick Sorensen Won’t Return As 49ers Defensive Coordinator
The 49ers will be seeking their fourth defensive coordinator in four years. Nick Sorensen won’t return as the 49ers defensive coordinator in 2025, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.
However, Sorensen’s stint in San Francisco may not be over. Maiocco adds that the 49ers are hoping they can keep the coach on Kyle Shanahan’s staff for next season. One option could be special teams coordinator, as Matt Barrows of The Athletic notes. The 49ers fired ST coordinator Brian Schneider the other day, and Sorensen served in that role during his time with the Jaguars.
After ranking third in points allowed in 2023, the 49ers dropped to 29th during Sorenson’s first season at the helm. The defense also struggled to generate turnovers, with Cam Inman of the Mercury News noting that the team had zero interceptions over their final seven games and only one fumble recovery over their final 11 games.
There was hope that Sorenson would help guide the 49ers to a new level after the team fired Steve Wilks last offseason. The former NFL journeyman moved quickly through the coaching ranks in San Francisco, where he worked his way up from a defensive assistant to defensive pass game specialist to defensive coordinator in three seasons. In addition to his one-year stint as Jaguars ST coordinator, Sorenson also had experience coaching defense with the Seahawks, where he served as the team’s secondary coach during the final seasons of the Legion of Boom era.
While the 49ers dealt with a long list of injuries, the team clearly wasn’t willing to tolerate the clear regression from the defense in 2024. Now, the organization will be seeking their fourth defensive coordinator in four seasons. Prior to Wilks one-year stint as defensive coordinator, DeMeco Ryans spent two years in the role before becoming head coach of the Texans.
Ryans’ predecessor, Robert Saleh, could be a candidate to take over for Sorenson, as Inman notes. Saleh spent four years as San Francisco’s defensive coach before leaving to become the Jets head coach in 2021. He was canned by the Jets earlier this season before catching on as a consultant in Green Bay, and he’s already emerged as a candidate for the Jaguars head coaching vacancy. It’s more likely that Saleh’s return to coaching will require a stop as coordinator, and a familiar spot in San Francisco could be his softest-possible landing.
Inman also points to Jeff Ulbrich and Gus Bradley as potential candidates for the 49ers new DC opening. Ulbrich most recently served as Saleh’s interim replacement in New York, and that was preceded by a three-plus-year stint as the Jets DC. The veteran coach crossed paths with Shanahan in Atlanta, and he spent his entire 10-year playing career in San Francisco.
Bradley and Shanahan have never worked alongside each other, but the veteran coach brings plenty of experience. Bradley most recently served as the Colts defensive coordinator, a role he held for three seasons before getting dismissed yesterday. Bradley also held DC roles with the Raiders, Chargers, and Seahawks, and he had a four-year stint as head coach with the Jaguars.
Bears Schedule Pete Carroll HC Interview
Pete Carroll expressed interest in the Bears’ head coaching job, but the longtime Seahawks HC’s name was not included in the initial wave of interview requests. It is now.
[RELATED: Pete Carroll Interested In Bears’ HC Job]
The Bears are planning to meet with the Super Bowl-winning coach Thursday, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler report. Carroll attempted to land another job after his Seattle ouster last year but did not. The veteran leader’s age (73) stands to present issues, as it did for Bill Belichick, but the Bears are going to see what the experienced leader can bring to the table.
Reports about Carroll’s NFL future haven’t necessarily been consistent. Following his Seattle ouster, there were rumblings that the long-time coach was moving towards retirement, anyway. On the flip side, reports indicated that Carroll intended to remain in his post as head coach of the Seahawks in 2024, but efforts to convince the organization to allow that to take place were ultimately unsuccessful.
While Carroll didn’t push for a new gig during the 2024 campaign, he recently resurfaced in the HC carousel, as the former Super Bowl champ was connected to the Bears gig towards the end of the regular season. He’ll now have a chance to pitch himself to Chicago’s brass, although it remains to be seen if the organization is simply doing their due diligence. While the Bears have cast a wide net in their search for a Matt Eberflus replacement, there’s been a sentiment that they’re seeking an offensive mind who can help develop former No. 1 pick Caleb Williams. Carroll’s defensive pedigree wouldn’t necessarily match with that gameplan.
Of course, Carroll’s decades in the NFL means he has plenty of connections, so it shouldn’t be tough for the coach to find a worthy offensive lieutenant. Carroll also helped transform former third-round pick Russell Wilson into one of the best QBs in the NFL, so it’s not like the coach is completely incapable of guiding a young signal-caller.
While Carroll’s age could work against him, he also had an obvious experience advantage over his fellow candidates. The long-time coach has 18 years of head coaching experience in stops with the Jets, Patriots, and Seahawks. He’s only earned one Super Bowl ring, but he also earned a second NFC Championship, and he owns a career playoff record of 11-11. His final seasons in Seattle left a bit to be desired, as the Seahawks went 25-26 with a single one-and-done playoff appearance between 2021 and 2023.
Still, there’s no denying that Carroll represents one of the most respected names available on the market. Assuming the Bears are looking for an immediate return to legitimacy, Carroll would certainly add some credibility to the organization.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/7/25
Many teams have started signing players to reserve/futures contracts, allowing the organization to retain (routinely) young, practice squad players through the offseason. Here are the latest reserve/futures contracts:
Arizona Cardinals
- DE Anthony Goodlow, OL Sincere Haynesworth, RB Zonovan Knight, NT P.J. Mustipher
Atlanta Falcons
- WR Makai Polk
Buffalo Bills
Chicago Bears
- TE Jordan Murray
Cincinnati Bengals
- CB Micah Abraham, RB Gary Brightwell, CB Nate Brooks, WR Cole Burgess, OT Andrew Coker, DE Raymond Johnson III, S PJ Jules, S Jaylen Key, G Tashawn Manning, WR Kendric Pryor, LB Craig Young
Indianapolis Colts
Las Vegas Raiders
- DL Tyler Manoa
Miami Dolphins
- WR Tarik Black, LB William Bradley-King, S Jordan Colbert, DT Neil Farrell, OT Ryan Hayes, OL Chasen Hines, LB Dequan Jackson, CB Isaiah Johnson, CB Jason Maitre, OT Bayron Matos, LB Derrick McLendon, TE Hayden Rucci
San Francisco 49ers
- OL Isaac Alarcon, WR Russell Gage, WR Isaiah Hodgins, OT Jalen McKenzie
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/7/25
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: WR Montrell Washington
- Released: LB Blake Lynch
Los Angeles Chargers
- Released: WR Laviska Shenault
Los Angeles Rams
- Released: S Quindell Johnson
Washington Commanders
- Signed: DT Haggai Ndubuisi
- Released: OT Max Pircher
To make room for veteran RB Ezekiel Elliott, the Chargers moved on from a veteran wideout. Laviska Shenault spent the majority of this season with the Seahawks, where he hauled in five catches in 11 games. The former second-round pick caught on with the Chargers practice squad in December and ended up getting into one game with the squad.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/7/25
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Designated for return: WR Deonte Harty
Houston Texans
- Designated for return: TE Teagan Quitoriano
Los Angeles Chargers
- Designated for return: WR Simi Fehoko
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from IR: S John Johnson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: QB Ian Book
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Designated for return: OT Calvin Anderson
A handful of playoff teams designated players for return from IR today, opening the 21-day window for activation. While there’s a chance these players are activated at some point during the postseason, they could also merely be providing the team with another body during practices.
Rams Place RB Blake Corum On IR
Blake Corum‘s rookie season has officially come to an end. The Rams announced that they’ve placed the first-year running back on injured reserve.
Corum suffered a fractured forearm during the Rams’ season finale. The injury will knock Corum out for the entire postseason, and the team has opened his roster spot by placing the rookie on IR.
A former standout at Michigan, Corum’s college career culminated with him earning the National Championship Offensive MVP. He was ultimately the third RB off the board (behind Jonathon Brooks and Trey Benson) when the Rams selected him in the third round of this past year’s draft.
With Kyren Williams dominating the backfield shares, snaps were difficult to come by for the Rams other RBs. Ronnie Rivers seemed to be the team’s initial choice for RB2, but the rookie eventually overtook his teammate, with Corum garnering the majority of the team’s backup RB snaps after their Week 6 bye. Corum ended up finishing his rookie campaign having compiled 265 yards from scrimmage on 65 touches.
With the rookie out of the lineup, Rivers will likely step up as the team’s top backup. The team is also rostering Cody Schrader, and the team announced that they’ve added veteran RB Royce Freeman to the practice squad.
Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty Declares For Draft
The nation’s top running back prospect has officially declared for the NFL Draft. Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty announced on X that he’s heading to the NFL for the 2025 season.
“I’m excited to announce I am declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft,” Jeanty said in part of his statement. “The opportunity to play in the NFL is a dream of mine, and I’m proud to represent Boise State and all of those who have helped me along the way at the next level.”
Following two productive seasons with the Broncos, Jeanty took his performance to another level in 2024. The running back ended up leading the FBS in rushing yards (2,601) and touchdowns (29), leading to him being runner-up for the Heisman Trophy.
That performance also firmly put Jeanty on the NFL map. Jeanty wasn’t very involved in Boise State’s passing attack, but many pundits have labeled the prospect as a three-down back in the NFL. The prospect is all but certain to be the first RB off the board, and there’s also a good chance he hears his name called in the first round of the draft.
Teams have generally been wary of using first-round picks at the position in recent years, with only five RBs being selected in the first round since 2020 (Clyde Edwards-Helaire in 2020, Najee Harris and Travis Etienne in 2021, Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs in 2023). Jeanty should be the latest inclusion to that exclusive list, and there shouldn’t be any shortage of suitors for the dynamic offensive player. The Cowboys have often been mentioned as a landing spot, especially since the player is a native of Frisco, Texas.
OT Tyron Smith Considering Retirement
Tyron Smith‘s illustrious career may soon be coming to an end. The veteran offensive tackle revealed today that he’s considering retirement, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini.
“I’ve got to make a lot of decisions going forward,” Smith said. “Within the next couple weeks, I have to decide what I’m going to do as far as playing or not playing.”
Smith’s first season with the Jets ended in November after he suffered a neck injury that required an extended stay on injured reserve. Smith revealed that his flirtation with retirement isn’t related to his growing list of injuries, with the OT also noting that he’s regained “full range of motion” in his neck.
Following a 13-year stay in Dallas, the Jets recruited Smith to New York this past offseason. The offensive tackle was accompanied by his fair share of risk, as the lineman hasn’t made it through a season unscathed since 2015. This included a recent stretch where Smith missed 37 games between 2020 and 2023.
Naturally, the Jets filled their contract with incentives, as the $6MM pact could reach a $20MM value based on playing time. As Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com notes, the Jets recently cleaned up their books and paid off some of those incentives as bonuses. Now, instead of letting the veteran’s contract void out, the team would likely designate Smith as a post-June 1 cut, allowing them to defer some of the owed money to 2026.
Things obviously didn’t work out for the Jets nor Smith in 2024, but the team can rest easy knowing they have their future LT on the roster. First-round pick Olu Fashanu filled in for Smith at the position down the stretch and will be penciled into the starting lineup heading into the offseason.
Bears Request HC Interview With Bills OC Joe Brady
Mentioned as a potential candidate last week, Joe Brady is indeed drawing interest for the Bears head coaching vacancy. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bears have requested an interview with the Bills offensive coordinator.
Following a stint in college, Brady served as the Panthers offensive coordinator between the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He was fired following that latter campaign and quickly caught on with the Bills as their QBs coach. He spent a year-plus coaching Josh Allen before earning a promotion to interim OC following Ken Dorsey‘s ouster.
Brady earned the full-time gig this past offseason, and the Bills proceeded to finish the 2024 campaign ranked second in points scored and 10th in yards. Despite losing top wideout Stefon Diggs, Brady helped guide Allen to another MVP-caliber season, and running back James Cook led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns.
Considering his success in Buffalo, it’s no surprise that Brady has become a popular name during this year’s hiring cycle. The Jaguars, Jets, and Saints have already requested interviews with the coordinator, and he’s also now set to meet with the Bears. As ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler points out, Brady does have a relationship with Bears QB Caleb Williams. Specifically, Brady tried recruiting Williams to LSU when he served as the Tigers’ pass-game coordinator.
The list of Bears HC candidates continues to grow. Via PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker, here is how the Bears’ search stands so far:
- Bill Belichick, head coach (North Carolina): Expressed interest
- Thomas Brown, interim head coach (Bears: Interview expected
- Pete Carroll, former head coach (Seahawks): Interested in job
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interview requested
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interview requested
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interview expected
- Mike Kafka, offensive coordinator (Giants): Interview requested
- Kliff Kingsbury, offensive coordinator (Commanders): Interview expected
- Mike McCarthy, head coach (Cowboys): Interview requested
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interview requested
- Drew Petzing, offensive coordinator (Cardinals): Interview requested
- David Shaw, senior personnel executive (Broncos): Interview requested
- Arthur Smith, offensive coordinator (Steelers): Interview requested
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): To interview 1/8
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Interview requested
Bears Request HC Interview With David Shaw
The Bears were busy requesting HC interviews today, with a number of coordinators and former NFL head coaches garnering interest. The team is thinking a bit outside the box with their latest candidate, as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the organization requested an interview with Broncos senior personnel executive David Shaw.
While Shaw most recently worked in an NFL front office, he’s no stranger to the sideline. Shaw spent more than a decade coaching at Stanford, including a 12-year stint as their head coach. He had a successful start to his head coaching career, guiding the Cardinal football team to six AP top-20 rankings through his first seven years at the helm. Stanford also made eight-straight bowl appearances, but the team struggled a bit during Shaw’s final seasons at the school.
Between 2019 and 2022, the team went only 14-28, including a 6-18 showing during his final two seasons. Following the conclusion of the 2022 campaign, Shaw resigned from his position. He resurfaced this past offseason when he joined the Broncos as a front office executive.
While Shaw made a name for himself in the college ranks, he also has coaching experience in the NFL. He had stints as QBs coach with both the Raiders and Ravens, and he also served as Baltimore’s wide receivers coach. Shaw has also been a mainstay in recent head coaching searches, interviewing for gigs with the Chargers, Titans, and Broncos over the past two years.
The list of candidates for the Bears head coaching job continues to grow. Just today, the team requested interviews with 10 candidates: Lions OC Ben Johnson and DC Aaron Glenn, Giants OC Mike Kafka, Cardinals OC Drew Petzing, Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver, Ravens OC Todd Monken, Steelers OC Arthur Smith, Vikings DC Brian Flores, and Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy.