The San Francisco 49ers lost the chance to take home the Super Bowl title last year after coming so close to their sixth ring.
Kyle Shanahan, who took over as the 49ers’ head coach in 2017 after signing a six-year deal, has made an effort to make coaching staff changes to give the team the best possible chance at winning in the 2024 season.
One of those changes includes promoting Nick Sorensen, who has taken big steps forward from his first role with the team as he is now their defensive coordinator for this season.
Everything You Need To Know About 49ers Defensive Coordinator Nick Sorensen
Sorenson joined the Niners in 2022 as a defensive assistant after previous coaching stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Seattle Seahawks.
Last season, the 49ers hired Steve Wilks as their defensive coordinator, but he was fired after just one season with the team.
Even after Wilks’ exit, the 49ers tried to poach Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. They also expressed interest in New York Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich but needed help to sign him due to his contract with New York. Shanahan has admitted that he also offered the DC job to legendary coach Bill Belichick.
However, San Francisco ultimately promoted Sorenson. Shanahan also added Brandon Staley to his staff as the team’s assistant head coach. Previously, Staley was the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive coordinator and Los Angeles Chargers’ head coach.
Prior to his coaching days, Sorenson played college football at Virginia Tech. He started his career as a quarterback and then switched to defense, playing safety and linebacker. He graduated with a degree in marketing in 1999.
Sorensen’s NFL career started in 2001 when he signed an undrafted rookie deal with the Miami Dolphins, but he was waived ahead of the season. He then had stops with the St. Louis Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Cleveland Browns before getting carted off from the field due to a neck injury in 2010 while playing against the Detroit Lions.
Sorensen married his wife, Danielle Berry, that same year, and they have two children together. Also, Sorensen is the cousin of a retired NBA player, James Augustine.
How Long Has Sorensen Been the Team’s Defensive Coordinator?
This is his first year as the Niners’ defensive coordinator, and it’s his first time in that role. The 49ers defensive coordinator started his coaching career in 2013 when he joined the Seahawks as a special teams assistant. He was later promoted to other roles.
After spending seven years with the Seahawks, he replaced Brian Schneider in Jacksonville as the team’s special teams coordinator in June 2021 and later joined his current team, the 49ers, in 2022.
Sorensen will be entering his third year with Shanahan’s team. He was first hired as a defensive assistant and was later promoted to nickel coach and defensive pass game specialist in 2023 before taking his current role as defensive coordinator in 2024.
Who Was the Defensive Coordinator Before Sorensen?
Former 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks was fired on February 14, 2024, soon after their loss against the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII. Wilks had a one-year stint with the team.
Wilks started his coaching career with Savannah State College in 1999 and served as a collegiate coach until 2005.
His first NFL coaching job was with the Chicago Bears, where he was appointed defensive backs coach in 2006. He later moved on to the San Diego Chargers in 2009.
Wilks has also held the position of head coach twice in his career, first with the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 and then as interim head coach of the Carolina Panthers after Matt Rhule was fired in 2022.