By Blessing 
The San Francisco 49ers’ disappointing 2024 season is nearing its end. With a 6-10 record, the team is set to face the Arizona Cardinals in their final regular-season game this weekend. Once that’s over, the franchise will turn its focus to a crucial offseason, where significant decisions await.
This year didn’t pan out as San Francisco had envisioned. Coming off a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in last season’s Super Bowl, the 49ers chose to stick with much of their core, hoping to make another championship run. However, their underwhelming performance has left the team with more questions than answers as they head into the offseason.
One of the pressing uncertainties revolves around the future of defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen. Promoted after the team parted ways with Steve Wilks last offseason, Sorensen is in his first year as defensive coordinator. His promotion marked the 49ers’ third defensive coordinator change in as many years. Before Wilks, DeMeco Ryans held the role but left to become the Houston Texans’ head coach two offseasons ago.
Now, the question looms: will the 49ers be searching for yet another defensive coordinator this offseason?
Ahead of the season finale, Sorensen reflected on his inaugural year as a coordinator. “I learn all the time,” Sorensen shared with reporters. “For me, I’m harder on myself probably than anything you guys or anyone could say. So, it starts with, are we winning the game? Obviously, I want our defense to be top-notch and be the best, to be the best that we can be, and grow, and get better. So as far as evaluating me, I learned a lot. I have learned a lot, and I’ll learn more this week, too.”
Despite the team’s struggles, head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed confidence in Sorensen’s potential. Speaking last week, Shanahan said, “I think Nick has done a good job as a coach. No one’s happy with our results by any means. I think he’s been thrown in a number of situations that I think will make him better going forward. I’ve watched him adjust to a bunch of different situations, kind of be in a couple of situations on a couple games when there wasn’t much of an answer, and he still had to try to find one. So, I think this year was good for him, and I know he’s going to be a good coach and better for it going forward.”
Even with this public vote of confidence, the possibility of a change at defensive coordinator remains. Why? The 49ers might look to bring back familiar faces such as Robert Saleh or Jeff Ulbrich.
Saleh, who served as San Francisco’s defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2020, is currently the head coach of the New York Jets. However, with his tenure in New York on shaky ground, he could become an appealing and stable option for the 49ers, especially if head coaching opportunities are not forthcoming for him in the near future.
Ulbrich, meanwhile, is currently the interim head coach for the Jets. He had been considered for the 49ers’ defensive coordinator position last offseason, but the Jets blocked San Francisco’s request to interview him while he served as their defensive coordinator. Should the Jets part ways with Ulbrich, he could re-emerge as a strong candidate for the role in San Francisco.
This season, the 49ers’ defense has been inconsistent. Some of the challenges can be attributed to their Wide 9 scheme, but coaching has also been under scrutiny. Moving on from Sorensen after just one year wouldn’t be ideal for continuity, but it’s a scenario the team may entertain if a more proven candidate becomes available.
As the 49ers prepare for a pivotal offseason, decisions like these will shape the trajectory of a franchise that still harbors championship ambitions despite its recent setbacks.