For the second time in three years, the 49ers have lost their defensive coordinator. DeMeco Ryans is returning to where it all began for him in the NFL, with the Houston Texans. He’ll have a young team and the second overall pick to potentially right the ship over there.
The 49ers have to figure out how to replace him, and they’ve got three candidates — according to early reports — that they’re eyeing.
Maybe the most interesting is Vic Fangio. Fangio has long been rumored to be a target for the 49ers and has kept in close contact with the organization.
But there are conflicting reports about his availability.
Per Josina Anderson, the 49ers are in discussions to interview Fangio, but he’s received interest from the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and Miami Dolphins.
You might be thinking, “Didn’t he already sign with the Dolphins?”
It sure sounded that way from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Since then, reports citing Fangio directly, from Denver’s Mike Klis and the Bay Area’s Mike Silver, have indicate Fangio hasn’t made his choice. Klis reported that “nothing is finalized” with Silver backing that up.
But if it’s not Fangio, who Ian Rapoport believes will end up with the Dolphins, who could it be?
The first name, as first reported by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, is the Panthers’ Steve Wilks, who stepped in as interim head coach, and pretty successfully, at that. He, however, lost out to the full time job to Frank Reich, and while he is under contract, he posted a statement expressing a desire to move on.
Wilks has spent the entirety of his career either as a defensive backs coach or a defensive coordinator, dating back to 1995.
The last name, per Anderson, is Washington Commanders defensive backs coach Chris Harris, who Anderson also reports has an opportunity to become the Chicago Bears’ secondary coach/ pass game coordinator.
Harris got into coaching in 2013 with the Bears, and spent two stints with them as a player. He’s made his living as an assistant and full-time defensive backs coach for both the Chargers and Commanders.
As of now, those are the only names known to be in consideration for the post left vacated by Ryans. Unlike in the past, there aren’t many clear internal candidates who might make the leap, though Cory Undlin — pass game specialist & secondary coach — was the Detroit Lions’ defensive coordinator in 2020.
Side note:
There’s also a fun, dumb wrinkle between the two most well-known national reporters regarding Ryans’ hiring. Rapoport reported that the Denver Broncos took a late run at luring Ryans on Tuesday.
Adam Schefter not so subtly disagreed. Someone, obviously, is wrong. For what it’s worth, Broncos reporter Benjamin Allbright stated that Rapoport is right.
It’s time to take sides in this very serious matter.