The San Francisco 49ers have filled a key defensive staff vacancy, hiring Matt Eberflus as their new assistant head coach of defense. Eberflus steps into the role that Gus Bradley held last season before Bradley left to join the Tennessee Titans as defensive coordinator under new head coach Robert Saleh in early February.
The move comes with the 49ers’ defensive leadership already in flux this offseason. Former Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris was brought in as defensive coordinator in February to replace Saleh.
Eberflus, who has coordinated and coached defenses across multiple NFL organizations, now joins Morris in building out San Francisco’s defensive staff ahead of the 2026 season.
Eberflus Arrives After Stints as Bears Head Coach and Cowboys Coordinator
Dallas Cowboys, Matt Eberflus, NFL
Sep 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus on the field during pregame at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
Eberflus went 14-32 as Chicago Bears head coach from 2022 through 2024, fired mid-season with a 4-8 start. He became the first Bears head coach ever let go in-season.
He next took on the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator role in 2025. Things went sideways early when Dallas traded All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers before the season even started.
The Cowboys finished 30th in total defense, dead last in passing defense at 251.5 yards per game, and last in third-down defense. Dallas fired Eberflus on Ja 6, 2026.
His NFL path started in 2009 with the Cleveland Browns as a linebackers coach, then included a stint as a Cowboys assistant before bigger opportunities arrived.
He eventually became the Indianapolis Colts’ defensive coordinator in 2018, a four-year run that helped build his reputation around the league before Chicago came calling.
After his firing in Dallas, Eberflus was direct about accountability. “Ownership and accountability is right with me,” he told reporters. “I’m the defensive coordinator. It’s always that.”
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, in a statement at the time, expressed respect even as the organization moved on.
“Having known Matt Eberflus for decades now, we have tremendous respect and appreciation for him as a coach and a person,” Jones said.
Indianapolis Colts, JuJu Brents
Sep 24, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Indianapolis Colts coach Gus Bradley during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
A Familiar Defensive Scheme Connects Eberflus and Morris on the 49ers Staff
Dallas Cowboys, Matt Eberflus, Skip Bayless, NFL
Aug 10, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus on the sidelines in the third quarter of a pre-season game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Both Eberflus and Morris have deep roots in the Tampa 2 defensive scheme, a shared background that should make their collaboration more straightforward from day one.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has kept a senior defensive assistant alongside his coordinator for a few seasons now. In 2024, former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley held that top-level advisory role on the staff.
San Francisco’s defense ranked 20th in yards allowed and 13th in points allowed in 2025, with injuries to All-Pro pass rusher Nick Bosa and All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner driving much of the fallout.
Both are expected back for 2026. With Eberflus alongside Morris and a healthier roster available, the 49ers have given their defense a more experienced leadership structure heading into the season.