K.J. Wright, a former linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks, announced on social media on Monday that he has joined the San Francisco 49ers as assistant linebackers coach.
After 11 seasons in the NFL, 10 of which were played with the Seahawks, Wright, 34, announced his retirement in July 2022. In 2021, Wright also spent a season as a player for the Las Vegas Raiders. In his coaching debut, he reunites with newly hired 49ers defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen, who coached special teams and the secondary for Pete Carroll’s Seattle team for eight seasons. After becoming a member of San Francisco’s defensive line in 2022, Sorensen was only elevated from passing game specialist to Steve Wilks’ replacement following the Super Bowl.
The 49ers fired Steve Wilks this offseason, promoted Nick Sorensen to defensive coordinator, brought in Brandon Staley to assist him, and added K.J. Wright, a former Seahawks linebacker, as a defensive quality control coach.
Has the coaching staff on defense improved?
It’s obvious that the 49ers don’t now believe Sorensen is superior to Wilks on his own. They wouldn’t have hired Staley otherwise. Recall that the 49ers signed Wilks despite having Sorensen last season, probably due to their belief that Sorensen wasn’t ready or wasn’t as good. During the bye week last season, after the 49ers lost three straight games and moved Wilks from the sideline to the coach’s booth, they had the option to fire Wilks immediately and elevate Sorensen if they felt he would be a better fit.
In his whole life, Sorensen has never called plays. Moreover, K.J. Wright has never held a coaching position. Staley, who had one successful season with the Rams in 2020 as a defensive coordinator, is the major addition to this staff. His defenses were not good during his three seasons as the Chargers’ head coach.
Therefore, no, on paper, the defensive coaching staff isn’t any better. The 49ers should have elevated Sorensen sooner since it’s feasible that he will perform better than expected and develop into a superb play caller. Let’s see.
But until the Jets maybe remove Robert Saleh, this Sorensen-Staley arranged marriage feels like a one-year experiment. Because I have a feeling the 49ers would do everything it takes to get Saleh back if he becomes available again the following season.
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