49ers are seemingly edging towards a hugely damaging decision with former defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen
The San Francisco 49ers have interviewed several candidates for their special teams coordinator position, but appear ready to settle for the least compelling. Jett Modkins, Chris Banjo and Chris Tabor have all been interviewed by the 49ers, Modkins and Banjo having played key roles in impressive special teams seasons for the Detroit Lions and Denver […]
The San Francisco 49ers have interviewed several candidates for their special teams coordinator position, but appear ready to settle for the least compelling.
Jett Modkins, Chris Banjo and Chris Tabor have all been interviewed by the 49ers, Modkins and Banjo having played key roles in impressive special teams seasons for the Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos respectively. Tabor, meanwhile, is an experienced and widely respected special teams coach who has excelled at several stops.
But, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic, the 49ers are primed to pass over that trio in favor of the man they just removed from the position of defensive coordinator.
Kyle Shanahan confirmed at an end-of-season press conference that Nick Sorensen could be moved into the position of special teams coordinator, and that idea has apparently gained traction.
Barrows said on the '49ers +/-' podcast with Tim Kawakami that Sorensen is the frontrunner for the special teams job following the firing of Brian Schneider.
"They want to bring him back," Barrows said.
The numbers suggest that would be a big mistake from the 49ers.
While Modkins has played a role in the Lions being first in special teams DVOA this season and Banjo has contributed to a performance from the Broncos that saw them ranked fourth by the same metric, Sorensen's lone season as a special teams coordinator was a disaster.
Indeed, when serving as the Jags' special teams coordinator in 2021, Sorensen oversaw the worst special teams unit in the NFL, Jacksonville finishing 32nd in the league in Expected Points in that area of the game.
In other words, the 49ers would be passing on the opportunity to hire one of two very promising special teams assistants or one of the most experienced coordinators in the league in order to keep Sorensen around in a position he has not proven worthy of occupying.
Put simply, it would be a head-scratching move, and would not inspire any confidence of a turnaround in an area that contributed massively to their nightmarish 2024 season.
49ers playing dangerous game with their myopic approach to search for a new defensive coordinator
It could very easily backfire.
