Matt Eberflus landed on his feet after all.
Two months after being fired as Cowboys defensive coordinator — and a year-and-a-half after being the first Bears head coach ever fired in-season — Eberflus will spend 2026 as a 49ers assistant coach. The 49ers will name him assistant head coach of defense, NFL Network reported Thursday.
Gus Bradley held the same role before being named the Titans’ defensive coordinator last month. The 49ers’ defensive coordinator — and, presumably, defensive play-caller — will be Raheem Morris, the former Falcons head coach. Like Morris, Eberflus is deeply rooted in the Tampa 2 scheme made popular by the Buccaneers, for whom Morris once coached.
Eberflus was fired after struggling during his one year in Dallas.
“Having known Matt Eberflus for decades now, we have tremendous respect and appreciation for him as a coach and a person,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in a statement at the time. “After reviewing and discussing the results of our defensive performance this season, though, it was clear that change is needed.”