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2mo ago

49ers Hire Matt Eberflus as Assistant Head Coach of Defense

The veteran coach steps into Gus Bradley’s former oversight role to support new coordinator Raheem Morris.

Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers stands in a huddle with his teammates during the first quarter of an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on January 17, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.
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Sep 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus looks on during warmups before the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
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Overview

  • NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero first reported the move, which replaces Bradley after he followed Robert Saleh to Tennessee as defensive coordinator.
  • Eberflus will work with Raheem Morris in a process-oriented post focused on weekly preparation, situational planning and staff coordination rather than primary play-calling.
  • Dallas fired Eberflus in January after one season as defensive coordinator, with the Cowboys finishing last in points allowed and passing defense and near the bottom in several other key categories.
  • His track record includes four seasons leading the Colts’ defense with multiple top-10 scoring finishes and consistently high takeaway totals, plus a 14-32 stint as Bears head coach that ended with a 2024 midseason dismissal.
  • San Francisco is retooling a unit that struggled in 2025, including ranking 25th in defensive EPA per play and recording a league-low 20 sacks, as some coverage questioned the hire and noted Eberflus and Morris share agent Trace Armstrong.