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The 49ers didn’t have to go far to find a replacement for defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who took the head coaching job with the New York Jets. They’re expected to promote linebackers coach DeMeco Ryans to the position vacated by Saleh per NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.
Ryans has drawn rave reviews from both Saleh and head coach Kyle Shanahan. The linebackers coach helped groom Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw and others after taking over as the 49ers’ inside linebackers coach in 2018.
It’s been a rapid rise for the 36-year-old former Texans linebacker. He retired in 2015 after a 10-year NFL career and began his coaching tenure in 2017 as a defensive quality control coach for the 49ers. His quick promotion to defensive coordinator after only four seasons in the coaching ranks speaks to how well thought of he is in the organization.