Feb 7, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan speaks during a press conference before Super Bowl LVIII at Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort and Spa. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
San Francisco 49ers Interview 5-Time Super Bowl Winning Coach for Open Defensive Coordinator Position
The San Francisco 49ers are still searching for a new defensive coordinator. Following their loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII, head coach Kyle Shanahan fired Steve Wilks citing that the communication between defensive coaches and players was not good enough. Shanahan and the 49ers also lost Super Bowl LIV to the Chiefs when Robert Saleh was their defensive coordinator.
The decision to fire Wilks was not a popular one among many NFL fans. Many pointed to the fact that Shanahan has always failed in the Super Bowl, twice as a head coach and once as an offensive coordinator, as evidence that, perhaps, the reason the 49ers lost is located higher up the coaching tree than the defensive coordinator
The San Francisco 49ers Interview Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Backs Coach Dave Merritt
The old adage “If you can’t beat them, join them” does not really apply here. In this case, it is “If you can’t beat them, hire them.”
According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the 49ers have interviewed Chiefs defensive backs Dave Merritt:
Among others who have interviewed for the job are former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Stalye, who was the defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams in 2020.
Dave Merritt Has Won 5 Super Bowls as an Assistant Coach
Chiefs’ secondary coach Dave Merritt began his NFL coaching career in 2001 as a defensive assistant and linebackers coach with the New York Jets. He held that post until 2003.
In 2004, Merritt was hired by the New York Giants. After two seasons as a defensive assistant, he was promoted to secondary coach and safeties coach in 2006. He held this position until 2017, winning two Super Bowls with the Giants.
Merritt spent the 2018 season as the defensive backs coach of the Arizona Cardinals
In 2019, Merritt reunited with Steve Spagnuolo, with whom he work during his days with the Giants, in Kansas City. Earlier this month, the Chiefs won their third Super Bowl since Merritt joined their staff, giving him an impressive five Super Bowl victories as an assistant coach.
