The San Francisco 49ers are now officially on the hunt for a new defensive coordinator, as DeMeco Ryans has agreed to terms on a six-year deal with the Houston Texans to become the next head coach.
Amongst those the 49ers will be pursuing, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, is the Washington Commanders' current/outgoing defensive backs coach, Chris Harris, who is one of the top up-and-coming assistants in the NFL.
In 2022, the Commanders ranked fourth in the NFL in pass defense, giving up just 191.3 yards per game in Harris' third season as DBs coach. He was expected to leave, as it was reported last week that he was leaving to join Tennessee's staff as defensive pass game coordinator/cornerbacks coach, but in that report, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero said Harris "remains in play for other defensive coordinator positions, too."
Harris, 40, spent eight years in the league as a safety, retiring after 2012. He began his coaching career in 2013 with the Bears as a defensive quality control coach, and also spent four seasons with the Chargers as an assistant DBs coach before joining Ron Rivera's staff in 2020.
NFL insider Mike Garafolo reports that in addition to Harris, the 49ers plan to talk to ex-Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks, who has been both a DC and head coach in the NFL and was the Panthers' defensive pass game coordinatior before moving up to interim HC when Matt Rhule was fired mid-season.
