It would be a surprise if DeMeco Ryans returns to the 49ers for another season.
The 38-year-old defensive coordinator has been widely expected to be one of the top head coaching candidates in this year’s offseason cycle. After an initial interview for the Minnesota Vikings’ vacancy last year, he declined a second interview, citing that he didn’t feel he was ready for a head coaching role.
But the 49ers, as Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch have made plain over the course of this season, fully expect someone to hire him away.
There is always unpredictability in hiring processes, and some teams may prefer offensive-minded head coaches. But Ryans’ success in overseeing the league’s top defense, and the credence Robert Saleh has given to a previously flailing organization bodes well for Ryans in that aspect, as does the likelihood that he will perform well in interviews.
Per Josina Anderson, Ryans could be a candidate for the Denver Broncos, who became the fifth team in NFL history to fire a first-year head coach before the end of the season when they departed with Nathaniel Hackett.
The question likely wouldn’t be about the Broncos’ interest. Would Ryans want the job? Denver has a stellar defense, but their issue, almost entirely, is Russell Wilson.
His play, coupled with his personality, has led to visible expressions of frustration on the field between him and his receivers and offensive linemen, culminating with backup quarterback Brett Rypien getting shoved by offensive lineman Dalton Risner this past weekend.
Wilson has looked, without question, like one of the league’s worst quarterbacks this year, and has a horrific contract with six years remaining. His former teammate, Tyler Polumbus, said Wilson has been “losing his mind” and using audibles from his time in Seattle, which, of course, his current teammates are unfamiliar with.
The Broncos could cut him, to a dead cap hit of $39 million next season, with a post-June 1 cut, but it would cost them $17 million on the salary cap, netting zero savings. The 2025 season is the first when getting rid of Wilson would save them money.
So, could Ryans find an offensive mind who can work with Wilson? Would he want the job even if he feels confident in the production they could get out of him? Or would he be optimistic about the surrounding talent in Denver?
These are all questions he’ll likely have for Broncos ownership, for a job that, despite the roster talent, looks un-enticing with Wilson and his albatross contract.