Why the 49ers Tried to Hire Bill Belichick as Their Defensive Coordinator
![2017: Bill Belichick celebrates after Super Bowl LI where the New England Patriots vs The Atlanta Falcon at NRG Stadium, Houston. 2017: Bill Belichick celebrates after Super Bowl LI where the New England Patriots vs The Atlanta Falcon at NRG Stadium, Houston.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_1577,h_887,x_0,y_437/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/all_49ers/01j3jh1gw819rvppv4vn.jpg)
The 49ers held an extensive search for the next defensive coordinator this offseason before they settled on promoting internal candidate Nick Sorensen.
First, they tried to hire Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo after he wiped the floor with 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan in the Super Bowl. Because if you can't beat them, hire their defensive coordinator, right? Unfortunately for the 49ers, Spaguolo stayed with the Chiefs after they gave him an extension.
Then, the 49ers reportedly tried to hire Bill Belichick as their defensive coordinator. As if one of the greatest head coaches of all time would accept a subordinate role at 72 years old. A subordinate role under Kyle Shanahan, a coach he beat in the Super Bowl in 2017 when Shanahan was the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons.
Of course, Belichick turned down the offer.
And then finally, the 49ers promoted Nick Sorensen to defensive coordinator. So Sorensen was their third choice at best. That's why they also hired Brandon Staley as the assistant head coach. They're not confident in Sorensen. He needs help. He's a consolation prize.
The 49ers could have promoted Sorensen to defensive coordinator in 2023 but they felt he wasn't ready or good enough. That's why they hired Steve Wilks. Which means Sorensen is the defensive coordinator because Wilks got fired and Spagnuolo and Belichick spurned the 49ers.
Seems like Sorensen doesn't have much job security. If he struggles early in the season, he could get replaced during the bye week by Staley. And if Sorensen struggles in the playoffs, the 49ers could fire him and replace him with another former head coach who gets fired next year.
I wonder how Sorensen feels about everyone knowing he was the third choice.