The 49ers lost defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Joe Woods when the Cleveland Browns hired him as their defensive coordinator. They quickly went to work looking for Woods’ replacement, and are set to hire former Dolphins defensive backs coach Tony Oden according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media.
Oden, 47, made his debut as an NFL coach in 2004 as an assistant on the Texans’ defensive staff. He was also there in 2005 when 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh got his first NFL job as an intern with Houston.
Oden also spent time with the Saints, Buccaneers and Lions before making his way to the Dolphins where he spent the last two seasons. He won a Super Bowl with the Saints in 2010, and coached with 49ers’ defensive line coach Kris Kocurek during his four-year stint in Detroit.
Woods held two positions with the 49ers, including the job of passing game coordinator which was a position that only existed upon Woods’ arrival. There’s no word on whether Oden will take over those passing game coordinator duties, or if he’ll strictly hold the title of secondary coach.
The 49ers are coming off a year where they finished with the No. 1 pass defense in the league, but the key for Oden will be developing some of the younger talent on the roster. San Francisco has several young players in the secondary who need to perform more consistently to carve out full-time starting roles. If Oden can step in and develop players like Ahkello Witherspoon and Emmanuel Moseley, the 49ers will be in a good place to continue possessing one of the NFL’s top defenses.