The San Francisco 49ers are searching for new defensive and special teams coordinators, and an offseason of change for their historic rivals the Dallas Cowboys could have an impact on both.

Robert Saleh is considered the frontrunner for the defensive coordinator job, a position he held from 2017 to 2020. However, the former New York Jets head coach is also drawing head coach interest. He has interviewed with the Jacksonville Jaguars and is set to do the same with the Las Vegas Raiders this week.

And the Cowboys appear set to complicate any 49ers' plans to hire Saleh, with NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reporting they have requested an interview with him for their head coach position following the decision to part ways with Mike McCarthy.

The #Cowboys have interest in and are expected to interview former #Jets coach Robert Saleh for the vacant head coach position, source said. Would be their first known request.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 15, 2025

Regardless of whether the Cowboys hire Saleh, their request to interview with him will likely mean a further delay for the 49ers if they are, in fact, seeking to hire him back to their staff.

It also hammers home the need for the 49ers to schedule interviews with more coordinators so they have fall back options if Saleh is hired as a head coach elsewhere. DeShea Townsend is the only other external candidate they have interviewed, and the Detroit Lions defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach won't be available until the end of Detroit's playoff run.

On the other side of the coin, McCarthy's exit has created an opportunity for the 49ers to potentially interview one of the best special teams coordinators in the business.

John 'Bones' Fassel authored another fine special teams season in 2024, with the Cowboys finishing third in special teams DVOA, per FTN Fantasy.

With Fassel now available to be interviewed, the 49ers would be very wise to speak with him as they look to turn around a dismal special teams unit that finished 31st in DVOA in 2024.

The 49ers have already interviewed Jett Modkins, Chris Banjo and Chris Tabor for the special teams coordinator position. With the chance to hire Fassel, but also the possibility that Dallas could scupper the 49ers' plans to appoint Saleh, the Cowboys could end up having a two-pronged impact on San Francisco's search to fill its coordinator positions.

49ers now have two potential international games in 2025, including chance to make history for second time

The stars appear to be aligning.