Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is looking to a familiar face as he remakes the 49ers defense.
Gus Bradley, a former NFL head coach and four-time defensive coordinator, will reportedly join the 49ers defensive staff in an as-yet unspecified role. Tom Pelissero of NFL Media was first to report the news.
Bradley was defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts since 2022 and has also held that position for the Seattle Seahawks (2009-12), Los Angeles Chargers (2017-20) and Las Vegas Raiders (2021). Bradley was head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2013-16 before being fired with a 14-48 record.
Saleh was a defensive assistant in Seattle under Bradley and also was linebackers coach in Jacksonville when Bradley was the head coach. When Saleh was still a candidate for head coaching jobs following this season, Bradley was a potential hire by the 49ers as defensive coordinator.
Should Saleh be coveted as a head coach following the 2025 season — which would be a good problem to have in that it would indicate the 49ers defense was formidable — Bradley would provide the possibility of an in-house successor.
It was the latest move under coach Kyle Shanahan for the 49ers after a 6-11 season. The 49ers officially hired Saleh to run their defense on Jan. 24. Saleh was the 49ers’ defensive coordinator from 2017-20 until hired as head coach by the New York Jets. He replaced Nick Sorensen, was one-and-done as coordinator in 2024, who replaced Wilks, who was one-and-done in 2023 after assuming the job when DeMeco Ryans became head coach of the Houston Texans.
The 49ers have also hired Brant Boyer of the New York Jets to replace Brian Schneider, who was fired after three seasons as special teams coordinator.
It’s possible Bradley would assume the role of Brandon Staley, who worked as a defensive assistant and assistant head coach last season. Staley, also a former head coach, joined the 49er after being fired by the Chargers.
Staley is still listed on the 49ers’ web site as assistant head coach/defense.
The 49ers are also expected to name Klay Kubiak as offensive coordinator after serving as an offensive passing games specialist. At his season-ending press conference, Shanahan said Kubiak had earned that role but the club wasn’t able to make it official until after minority candidates were interviewed.
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Even with the promotion, Kubiak — who called the plays for the 49ers in preseason games as well as the regular-season finale against Arizona — will take a back seat to Shanahan as the play-caller.
Sorensen, who was under consideration to be the 49ers special teams coach, has resurfaced as the special teams coach for the Dallas Cowboys. Wilks, who didn’t coach last year after being fired following the 2023 season, was hired to run the defensive of new coach Aaron Glenn with the New York Jets.
Schneider also got another job, moving on to the Washington Commanders as special teams coordinator.
