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49ers Add Failed Defensive Coordinator to Coaching Staff in Baffling Move

By Richard Louis

Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan reacts after losing to the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan reacts after losing to the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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The San Francisco 49ers had a disappointing season in 2024. After making the playoffs from 2021-2023, the 49ers didn't get that luck this season. They went 6-11 this campaign and missed the playoffs.

The 49ers made some tweaks along the coaching staff. San Francisco fired defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen after one season and brought back Robert Saleh. With Saleh returning as defensive coordinator, the team is still making moves to the defensive staff.

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Gus Bradley is joining San Francisco's staff. Saleh and Bradley crossed paths with the Seattle Seahawks and Jacksonville Jaguars before reuniting in the bay.

49ers News: Gus Bradley is Joining the 49ers Defensive Staff

Even though Bradley is landing on the coaching staff as an assistant, his track record lately hasn't been the best.

From 2022-2024, he was the Colts defensive coordinator. This past season, Indianapolis was 29th in total defense (361.2) and 24th in scoring defense (25.1). It wasn't much better in 2023 either, as the Colts were 24th in total defense (349.8) and 28th in scoring defense (24.4).

The lack of production under Bradley led to the Colts firing him this past January. Bradley was also the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2013-2017 and struggled immensely there. He went 14-48 as the lead man. From 2013-2015, the Jags defense never finished better than 24th in total defense.

His best days were with the Seattle Seahawks from 2009-2012, when he led that Legion of Boom defense. While that was a feared unit, that was over a decade ago. Since then, he's struggled to consistently lead a productive defense unit. Adding him to the staff appears to be more about familiarity than about performance.

Granted this defense has a ton of talent, so they should be able to be a stout unit in 2025, but the addition of Bradley isn't something to be amped about.

It's more of a wait-and-see type of addition.

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