The San Francisco 49ers’ future head coach very may well win a Super Bowl hours from now, carrying a wave of momentum into Santa Clara for the 2017 season.
But Kyle Shanahan still has to fill out his staff, namely a defensive coordinator.
Two names have emerged as candidates on Super Bowl Sunday: New England linebackers coach Brian Flores per Ian Rapoport and Jacksonville linebackers coach Robert Saleh per Jay Glazer.
Flores is the more known of the two. He started his career in 2004 with the Patriots as a scouting assistant, has coached special teams and safeties. Flores is just 35 years old and played college football for Boston College. There’s a lot of upside and potential here.
Saleh is a Gus Bradley disciple and followed the former Jaguars head coach from Seattle. Saleh’s connection to Shanahan happened in Houston in the late 2000s, where he served as an assistant linebackers coach on Gary Kubiak’s staff.
My opinion: I am in favor of the 49ers hiring a brand new defensive coordinator as opposed to a recycled candidate such as Jim Haslett or Rob Ryan. Shanahan is presumably signed to a six-year contract, which gives him leeway to take a chance on defense.
What if Flores or Saleh are one of the next bright NFL minds on the defensive side of the football? Marrying a strong defense with Shanahan’s offense is obviously the formula to get to the playoffs. There’s more risk involved in hiring an unknown, but there’s also the chance for a bigger reward.
The 49ers finished 32nd in the NFL last season in defense and gave up a franchise record in rushing yards allowed. The only direction to go on that side of the football is up.