49ers weighing option of promoting Kris Kocurek to defensive coordinator

Vic Fangio officially joined the Miami Dolphins as their new defensive coordinator, removing his name from the list of potential candidates for the same job with the San Francisco 49ers.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan and company have already requested permission to interview Carolina Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks and Washington Commanders defensive backs coach Chris Harris as part of their search to replace DeMeco Ryans, who became the Houston Texans head coach this week.

The 49ers will also look internally, as they did when hiring Ryans to replace Robert Saleh in 2021. Shanahan hopes to keep some continuity with his defensive staff.

“I’m trying to get something where we don’t have to turn much over,” Shanahan said on Wednesday. “I would love to keep our same staff, so I’m going to talk to some guys on our staff.”

One of those internal candidates might be Kris Kocurek, the 49ers’ defensive line coach since 2019. According to Josina Anderson, San Francisco is evaluating the possibility of promoting their valuable and well-respected assistant coach.