The San Francisco 49ers are still looking to fill their defensive coordinator position following the firing of Steve Wilks, and they could do so with what would be a blockbuster hire.

There had been precious little noise about the Niners' search for a replacement for Wilks. However, on Monday NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco reported the Niners have interviewed former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley for the vacant role.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that news to Maiocco via text message. Shanahan has also interviewed an internal candidate in the form of the 49ers' defensive passing game specialist/nickels coach Nick Sorensen. He is also set to interview San Francisco's defensive backs coach Daniel Bullocks.

“Should finish it all up this week,” Shanahan said, per Maiocco.

But it is the possibility of the Niners hiring Staley that will create the most intrigue. 

While Staley's Chargers spell will be remembered for Los Angeles' playoff meltdown in Jacksonville in the wild card round at the end of the 2022 season, his frequently controversial fourth-down decisions and his firing after a 5-9 start to 2023, it is easy to forget he was hired after establishing a reputation as one of the league's finest defensive minds.

Staley was the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams in 2020 and oversaw a superb performance from that unit, with the Rams finishing first in points and yards on defense.

The 49ers enjoyed that distinction in 2022 with DeMeco Ryans as their defensive coordinator but dropped to third in points and eighth in yards under Wilks, San Francisco struggling markedly against the run down the stretch and in the playoffs. A series of curious play-calling decisions from Wilks in crucial moments of San Francisco's overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 58 seemingly sealed his fate.

Wilks came from outside the 49ers' system, following two predecessors in Robert Saleh and Ryans who had developed within it. Staley would be another hire from outside the scheme as a Vic Fangio disciple and has traditionally used a three-man front rather than the four-man defensive line San Francisco employs.

That could make Staley an odd fit as Wilks' successor, but the experience of 2023 has clearly not deterred Shanahan from looking outside the scheme. If he decides Staley is worth the gamble, the 49ers' defense will be a fascinating one to watch in 2024.

Evaluating the internal options for the 49ers’ defensive coordinator vacancy

One coach stands out.