The San Francisco 49ers have made a decisive move regarding their defensive leadership for the upcoming 2024 season. According to sources reported by NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport on Saturday, the 49ers are poised to promote Nick Sorensen, their current defensive passing game/nickel cornerbacks coach, to the position of defensive coordinator.
This appointment comes as the team bids farewell to Steve Wilks, the previous defensive coordinator, following just one season despite the 49ers’ journey to Super Bowl LVIII. Despite the departure of Wilks, the 49ers’ defense showed formidable performance in the 2023 season, ranking third in rushing yards allowed (89.7) and points allowed per game (17.5).
The selection of Sorensen to lead the defense suggests a commitment to maintaining continuity within the team’s defensive structure, which features standout players like Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and Charvarius Ward. However, general manager John Lynch faces the task of ensuring the strength of the defense remains intact during the offseason, particularly with key players such as Chase Young, Javon Kinlaw, and Tashaun Gipson approaching free agency.
Nick Sorensen, 45, joined the 49ers’ coaching staff in 2022 as a defensive assistant, bringing with him a wealth of coaching experience dating back to 2013. He began his coaching career in Seattle as an assistant special teams coach, contributing to the Seahawks’ Super Bowl XLVIII victory. Sorensen continued to evolve in his coaching roles, serving as an assistant defensive backs coach and secondary coach during his tenure with the Seahawks until the end of the 2020 season. Subsequently, he transitioned to the role of special teams coordinator with the Jacksonville Jaguars before ultimately joining the 49ers’ coaching staff.
