The San Francisco 49ers went big game hunting at defensive coordinator this NFL offseason, and Bill Belichick was on the team’s list. Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan recently revealed that he spoke with Belichick this offseason and offered him a job on San Francisco’s coaching staff.
Following DeMeco Ryans’ departure in 2023, the 49ers hired Steve Wilks to fill the void at defensive coordinator for just one season. This offseason, Belichick wasn’t San Francisco’s only target at DC, as the Niners also attempted to hire Steve Spagnuolo and Jeff Ulbrich away from their current teams. Yet, Belichick stands out above the rest.
Why Did the 49ers Pursue Bill Belichick?
Following a heartbreaking loss in Super Bowl 58, the 49ers felt it was time to make a drastic change. Wilks was fired, and San Francisco was suddenly looking for a new defensive coordinator. Therefore, Shanahan aimed for the moon as he pursued the greatest head coach in NFL history.
Shanahan discussed his conversations with Belichick this offseason with The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami on the latest episode of “The TK Show” podcast. Despite allowing the third-fewest points and eighth-fewest total yards in the NFL last season, Shanahan wasn’t satisfied.
Also: Shanahan talks about his offer to Bill Belichick to do anything he wanted with the 49ers this year, and Belichick's polite no thanks. https://t.co/a89MuH1YZz
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) July 23, 2024
After falling short in the Super Bowl twice, he was eager to give Belichick any role that he desired on the team’s coaching staff. Belichick has won more Super Bowl titles than any other head coach in history and is regarded as one of the best defensive minds of all time.
However, the 72-year-old passed on the opportunity to join Shanahan’s staff and will likely be in the running for head coaching jobs in 2025. It’s been 25 years since Belichick was an NFL defensive coordinator, and he clearly wasn’t ready to return to that role this year.
Analyzing Belichick’s Potential Fit in San Francisco
If the Niners were somehow able to hire Belichick as the team’s next DC, it would have been fascinating to see what he could do in San Francisco. The 49ers are loaded with intriguing talent on the defensive side of the ball, and since arriving in the NFL in the 1970s, Belichick has shown that he can maximize defensive players’ talents.
One major change that Belichick would have likely made to San Francisco’s defense is the team’s base alignment. While he adapted his defense over the years with the New England Patriots, the Niners would have likely moved from a 4-3 defensive front to a 3-4.
If the 49ers want to go all in on winning a sixth Lombardi Trophy, Kyle Shanahan should call Bill Belichick to replace Steve Wilks. Here's why:
Belichick is:
– Currently without a job
– One of the best def. Minds ever
– Patriots defense was really good
– Belichick isn’t tied to… pic.twitter.com/4FvPIWG2lE— Chase Senior (@Chase_Senior) February 14, 2024
That change would actually be interesting to see, as the Niners have the personnel to flourish in that scheme. As currently constructed, Maliek Collins, Javon Hargrave, and Jordan Elliott would likely serve as the team’s defensive linemen, while Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, and Leonard Floyd would serve as San Francisco’s linebackers.
Belichick would make things really interesting by using five or more defensive backs. Niners safety Talanoa Hufanga seems like a player built to play in Belichick’s defensive scheme. Rookie DBs Malik Mustapha and Renardo Green would have immediate roles in the veteran head coach’s dime packages as well.
Hiring Belichick Might Have Created Drama in San Francisco
Shanahan is widely regarded as one of the top head coaches in the NFL with one of the best offensive schemes. While potentially pairing his offensive knowledge with Belichick’s defensive scheme seems great on paper, it’s fair to wonder if the partnership would have actually worked well in San Francisco.
While Shanahan certainly said all of the right things about Belichick, there’s no denying that the 72-year-old legend has a stern personality. Given that Belichick hasn’t been a defensive coordinator since 1999, accepting a demotion would have likely been tough to swallow.
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This is likely why Belichick passed on the opportunity to lead one of the most talented defenses in the NFL. It seems like he doesn’t want to coach for the sake of coaching; he wants to be able to lead an entire team and not just one side of the ball.
Belichick hasn’t been afraid to criticize his offensive coordinators in the past, and it would be awkward to see him scolding Shanahan in San Francisco. Given the potential head coaching jobs that could open in 2025, it was the right move for Belichick to pass on the opportunity in San Francisco and focus on becoming an HC once again next offseason.