49ers’ Shanahan interviews Staley, Sorensen for defensive coordinator

Kyle Shanahan has interviewed former Chargers coach Brandon Staley and in-house candidate Nick Sorensen as the 49ers' search for a defensive coordinator could include more candidates this week.

SANTA CLARA — Coach Kyle Shanahan is still mulling over who he’ll hire as his fourth defensive coordinator in eight years, but the interview process is underway.

Brandon Staley, the Los Angeles Chargers’ coach the past three seasons, and Nick Sorensen, a 49ers defensive assistant the past two years, have both interviewed with Shanahan, a league source confirmed Monday.

More candidates likely will be interviewed this week, including 49ers secondary coach Daniel Bullocks, as first reported by NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco, who communicated with Shanahan.

Three days after the 49ers lost Super Bowl LVIII to the Kansas City Chiefs, Steve Wilks was fired after one season as defensive coordinator, a role previously held by Robert Saleh and DeMeco Ryans before they became head coaches of the New York Jets (2021) and the Houston Texans (2023).

Staley compiled a 24-24 record before the Chargers fired him in December, when the team was 5-9. He served as the 2020 Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator, the only time he’s served in that role in the NFL. He coached linebackers with the Chicago Bears (2017-18) and the Denver Broncos (2019) after nearly a decade in the collegiate ranks.

Sorensen worked with the 49ers’ nickel backs last season as their pass-game coordinator. He joined the organization in 2022 as a defensive assistant. His familiarity with the 49ers’ defensive scheme traces to his days on Pete Caroll’s Seattle Seahawks staffs from 2013-2020.

For a third straight season, Shanahan will not attend the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, although general manager John Lynch will be there representing the 49ers and meeting with the media on Tuesday at 11 a.m. PT.