While there have been no reports of any changes on the Arizona Cardinals’ coaching staff, there is movement around the NFC West. Two teams in the division have dismissed at least one of their coordinators. The San Francisco 49ers, for the second offseason in a row, have let their defensive coordinator go after only one season. This year, it is Nick Sorensen, who was hired to replace former Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks, who was canned after only one season in 2023.
The 49ers finished a disappointing 6-11 after making the Super Bowl last season.
Defensively, they fell apart late in the year, culminating in a 47-24 loss to the Cardinals.
Overall in 2024, the 49ers had a top-10 defense, ranking eighth in yards allowed, but they allowed the fourth-most points in the league, giving up 25.6 points per game, and allowing 29 or more in five of their final seven games.
They were No. 5 against the pass and 18th against the run, but opponents rushed for 152.8 yards per game over the final four games of the season and 152.6 over the final seven.
The 49ers reportedly would like to retain Sorensen on the staff, just not as the leader of the defense.
While Arizona’s defense is expected to maintain its defensive staff, the 49ers have added yet another question to answer in their offseason.
In addition to firing Sorensen, the Niners also fired special teams coordinator Brain Schneider, giving them two coordinators their must replace in the offseason.
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