After it has been reported that the San Francisco 49ers are moving on from defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen after one season, they have a pretty obvious replacement for him in New York Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich.
Ulbrich assumed the interim role after head coach Robert Saleh, a former defensive coordinator for the Niners, was fired by the Jets after a 2-3 start to the 2024 season.
The Jets did not fare much better under Ulbrich, as the team had a record of 3-9 under his command.
It seems highly unlikely the Jets will keep Ulbrich as their head coach going into the 2025 season. They are already interviewing other candidates, and after such a dismal season, they are probably just looking for a fresh start overall.
If they do let go of Ulbrich, chances are he will try to seek a defensive coordinator role given he was the team's DC prior to being promoted to interim head coach.
Of all the defensive coordinator jobs out there, there are probably few as appetizing as the one in San Francisco.
Sure, the fact the 49ers have fired their defensive coordinator in two straight years does not seem great. But before that, Saleh went from coordinator to head coach, and DeMeco Ryans went from Saleh's successor in the Bay Area to head coach of the Houston Texans. Getting to coach a defense that has one of the best edge rushers in the NFL in Nick Bosa and one of the best linebackers in the NFL in Fred Warner is pretty appetizing for a prospective candidate.
Plus, Ulbrich used to play for San Francisco. He was a linebacker for the team from 2000 to 2009, was born in San Jose, and played college football at San Jose State, so his ties to the Bay Area run deep. It was also reported that the 49ers had interest in Ulbrich as their defensive coordinator last offseason.
Despite New York's struggles in 2024, it allowed the third-fewest yards per game in the entire NFL. Ulbrich took over as defensive coordinator in New York in 2021, and in 2022, New York gave up the fourth-fewest yards per game. In 2023, it gave up the third-fewest.
The 49ers should not overcomplicate this. Ulbrich is the ideal candidate for San Francisco given his ties to the Bay Area and his record as a successful defensive coordinator.
If they do hire him, let's hope he can help get the defense back on track in 2025.