Ranking the internal candidates for the 49ers' defensive coordinator job

Ranking the internal candidates for the 49ers defensive coordinator job No. 2: LB Coach Johnny Holland

What better way to reorient the focus on the defense back to the front seven than by hiring a coach whose primary focus in on the linebackers. This would be a return to the defense under DeMeco Ryans who was a linebackers coach for the 49ers before becoming the defensive coordinator.

Holland has been with the 49ers since 2017 when Shanahan took over so he knows the system that the 49ers want to play as well as anyone. If the 49ers hired him it would likely make Fred Warner, arguably their most important player on defense, happy.

Plus, at the age of 58, and with many recent head coaching jobs going to younger and younger candidates, there may not be a huge desire by other teams to hire Holland away from the 49ers to be a head coach like Saleh and Ryans were.

That means that the 49ers could have some stability under Holland if he does a good job and can potentially stay with the team for multiple seasons while they have their defensive core intact.

There is one final internal candidate who may be the best option to replace Wilks in the defensive coordinator role.