Who is Brant Boyer? Everything you must know about 49ers' new coordinator

Brant Boyer is joining the 49ers as their new special teams coordinator, which should give the fanbase a lot of hope entering 2025.

To say the San Francisco 49ers' special teams unit was atrocious in 2024 is either too kind or insulting to the word atrocious.

So, it wasn't exactly surprising when the Niners fired their special teams coordinator, Brian Schneider, upon the conclusion of the regular season.

But head coach Kyle Shanahan had another, bigger void to fill: defensive coordinator. After parting ways with Nick Sorensen not long after Schneider's dismissal, finding someone to helm the defense was the far bigger priority.

Good thing San Francisco reunified with its longtime coordinator, turned ousted-New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh.

Exactly how much influence and say Saleh had in the 49ers' next coaching hire is unknown, but there had to be some link to the Niners opting to bring aboard Gang Green's longtime special teams coordinator, Brant Boyer, just days after the Saleh hiring went official.

From San Francisco's press release:

"Boyer, 53, joins the 49ers after spending the previous nine seasons as special teams coordinator for the New York Jets. During his Jets tenure (2016-24), Boyer led a special teams unit that ranked tied-for-second in total touchdowns (nine), second in blocked punts (eight) and tied-for-fifth in special teams points scored (63) and opponent kickoff return average (21.8). Under Boyer's guidance, two players (WR Braxton Berrios - 2022 & WR Andre Roberts - 2018) earned Associated Press First-Team All-Pro honors as returners, while three players (CB Justin Hardee - 2023, Roberts - 2019 and K Jason Myers - 2019) made Pro Bowl appearances.

Prior to his time in New York, Boyer spent four seasons (2012-15) as an assistant special teams coach for the Indianapolis Colts. He helped guide the Colts unit to top 10 ranks in the NFL in yards per kickoff return (fourth), net yards per punt (sixth) and field goal percentage (seventh) during that span. In 2014, Boyer worked with P Pat McAfee and K Adam Vinatieri, helping them earn AP First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. Boyer also coached LS Matt Overton to the first Pro Bowl of his career in 2013. He began his coaching career as a training camp intern for the Cleveland Browns (2009) and New York Giants (2010).

Originally a sixth-round (177th overall) draft pick by the Miami Dolphins in the 1994 NFL Draft, Boyer played linebacker and special teams for 11 seasons with the Dolphins (1994), Jacksonville Jaguars (1995-2000) and Cleveland Browns (2001-04). In 129 career games, he registered 250 tackles, 13.0 sacks, 15 passes defensed, six interceptions and one forced fumble. He also appeared in nine postseason contests (two starts) and added eight tackles.

A native of Ogden, UT, Boyer attended Snow College (1990-91) and the University of Arizona (1992-93), where he earned Second-Team All-Pac-10 honors (1993)."

Speaking of McAfee, the notable special teams ace had nothing but great things to say about the Niners' decision to hire Boyer:

There's a lot to unpack in Boyer's history, extending beyond both his days as a coordinator and even a player.

While the special teams rankings in New York are nice, let's look at some of the analytics, courtesy of our old friend, Rob Lowder:

Few need a lesson on the Jets' dysfunction over the years, but Boyer's special teams seemed to be the proverbial glue that held things together.

Plus, think about all the head coach and regime changes in New York since Boyer first landed there in 2016:

• Todd Bowles (2015-2018)
• Adam Gase (2019-2020)
• Robert Saleh (2021-2024)
• Jeff Ulbrich (2024)

Most commonly, coordinators are dismissed alongside most head coaches, and the new coaches opt to bring in their own preferred assistants. The fact no one wanted to move Boyer speaks well to his abilities.

Tack on the fact Shanahan didn't want to cast this easy-to-overlook job to someone with a less pedigree speaks measures, too.

As for Boyer, he only has one direction in which to point San Francisco's special teams.

Up.

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