(Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
If 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh does indeed take a head coaching position this offseason — he’s reportedly a top name for the Lions opening — they might not have to look very far for his successor.
At least that’s the case if you listen to three former 49ers defensive players, all of which told Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area that DeMeco Ryans, the team’s inside linebackers coach, would be their choice should San Francisco conduct a coaching search.
“DeMeco Ryans has had great success at all levels of football,” Donte Whitner said. “His linebackers are arguably the best-performing group on the 49ers roster. He deserves consideration if the 49ers’ defensive coordinator position opens up.”
Ryans, 36, would be one of the youngest defensive coordinators in the NFL. After a decorated 10-year career as an NFL linebacker, Ryans sat out just one year before joining the 49ers coaching staff in 2017 as a quality control coach, the same year Saleh took over as DC. Ryans was promoted to inside linebackers coach a year later.
“DeMeco Ryans is a leader of men,” Former 49ers linebacker Takeo Spikes said. “As a former player, he has an innate and keen understanding of the locker room, as well as the culture. He’s spent quality time under the tutelage of some of the best defensive minds that have come through the game, Wade Phillips and Robert Saleh.
“As a coach, he has developed two young linebackers in Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw. He’s helped morph Warner into a Pro Bowl linebacker and possibly All-Pro. He’s taken Greenlaw, a fifth-round pick, and helped him become one of the better tackling linebackers in the league.”
Former 49ers defensive lineman Ian Williams believes there is also some value in keeping Saleh’s successor in-house rather than going out and signing someone on the open market, like former Falcons coach Dan Quinn for instance.
“To keep someone familiar with the team, knows his players’ weakness and strengths, will keep somewhat the same defense and will bring energy,” Williams said. “That’s how you string along success from the familiarity of the players with him, and there’s isn’t a transition period or an extended learning period that the coach needs to identify what his players can and can’t do.
“Not only will his players play hard for him like they did for Saleh, they have already built relationships with him. So that will save precious time instead of a new D.C. coming in and having to learn about all his players. Coach Ryans knows his players and can focus his scheme and prepare for opposing offenses this offseason.”
