49ers news: These teams could hire DeMeco Ryans away in 2023

The 49ers nearly lost defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans to a head-coaching vacancy last offseason, and they probably will lose him in 2023.

A little less than a year ago, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans ultimately turned down a second interview with the Minnesota Vikings for their head-coaching vacancy in the wake of firing Mike Zimmer.

Ryans felt he had some unfinished business on the defensive side of the ball, particularly after the Niners were bounced by the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship game.

After some tweaks, additions and adjustments, Ryans is now at the helm of the NFL’s No. 1-ranked defense. While the personnel on the field has had a lot to do with all that, Ryans can claim a lot of credit for San Francisco’s already-good defense turning into perhaps one of the greatest defenses in franchise history.

That defense is almost guaranteed to get Ryans a head-coaching gig elsewhere in the upcoming season, though.

And these teams are likely to be calling Ryans to interview him this offseason.

49ers could lose DeMeco Ryans to Broncos

Nathaniel Hackett became one of only a handful of coaches in the modern NFL era not to survive his first season as a head coach, as the Denver Broncos ultimately elected to fire him after Week 17.

Almost nothing has gone right in Denver this season, and one can fairly ask about the direction of the team since its victory in Super Bowl 50, meaning some sort of identity will be needed.

According to CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson, Ryans is on the short list of candidates expected to draw interest from the Broncos:

Granted, Anderson listed some other well-known names, some of whom are hot candidates themselves.

Yet Ryans is one of the rapid risers, and he won’t fall into the category of a retread, such as Dan Quinn or Sean Payton.