The San Francisco 49ers are wasting no time in finding a replacement for former defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen, who parted ways with the team after the 2024 season. The team recently completed interviews with Detroit Lions passing game coordinator Deshea Townsend and former Jets head coach Robert Saleh,

Townsend is a former longtime Steelers cornerback who has managed secondaries across the NFL over the last decade. He has been a defensive backs coach for the Titans (2016-17), Giants (2018, assistant), Bears (2019-21), Jaguars (2022-23) and Lions (2024). The last two stops have included duties as the defensive passing game coordinator.

The San Francisco 49ers began their search for a new defensive coordinator Thursday by interviewing Robert Saleh for a second stint at the job and Detroit Lions assistant Deshea Townsend. Saleh is a 2001 graduate of Northern Michigan University who played football for four years for the Wildcats.