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SANTA CLARA, Calif. — After saying goodbye to Robert Saleh and Gus Bradley in January, the San Francisco 49ers are adding another experienced defensive coach to Kyle Shanahan’s staff.
A source told ESPN on Thursday that Shanahan is hiring former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus to the Niners’ defensive staff. No title has been made official, but the role is expected to be similar to the assistant head coach/defense job that Bradley held for San Francisco in 2025. NFL Network first reported Eberflus’ hiring.
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After Chicago fired Eberflus during the 2024 season, he spent last year as the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator before he was let go in January. Eberflus has also previously worked as the Indianapolis Colts’ defensive coordinator from 2018 to 2021 before landing in Chicago.
Earlier this offseason, the Niners hired former Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris as defensive coordinator, filling the job vacated by Saleh’s departure to become head coach of the Tennessee Titans. Saleh took Bradey with him to Tennessee as his defensive coordinator.
Shanahan has, in recent years, taken to keeping an extra high-ranking defensive coach around to help with various projects and game planning. In 2024, the Niners had Brandon Staley as a top-level defensive assistant to help then coordinator Nick Sorensen and then added Bradley after bringing Saleh back last year.
