Why Warner believes new 49ers DC Sorensen was ‘born’ for the role originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
As the 49ers continue their offseason preparations ahead of the start of the 2024 NFL season, Fred Warner has high praise for the new defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen and new assistant coach Brandon Staley.
Speaking to the media during San Francisco’s mandatory minicamp, Warner was asked what he thought of Sorensen joining the defensive coordinator role and his new relationship with Staley.
“I feel like Nick [Sorensen] he was born for this role,” said Warner. “He is a natural leader, we saw that in recent years when he held the ball meeting in front of the team. Just the strength, the energy that he brings, he is always well prepared and has a standard that wants to continue putting pressure on us as a defense.
“I think he’s doing a great job and Coach Staley has been amazing as well, I love just understanding what he thinks, being able to talk things through with him, learning little things, just the nuances of the game. And he’s not afraid to call me in meetings when he sees a piece of mine where I’m not fully involved.”
Warner explains why he believes Sorensen was “born” to be a defensive coordinator and what Brandon Staley added to the team pic.twitter.com/VUj7n8qZCB
– 49ers on NBCS (@ NBCS49ers) June 5, 2024
Following the 49er’s Super Bowl LVIII loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, defensive coordinator Steve Wilks was released and Sorensen was promoted.
After being fired as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, Staley was hired by San Francisco as an assistant coach. Known as a defensive guru, Staley is expected to help mentor Sorensen in his new role, as well as helping to strengthen the defense with his knowledge base.
San Francisco’s defense struggled last postseason, getting shredded for much of the divisional round matchup against the Green Bay Packers and in the NFC Championship Game against the Detroit Lions. In the Super Bowl against the Chiefs, Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes made a series of big plays in overtime to score the winning touchdown.
These defensive struggles led to Wilks’ dismissal. Kyle Shanahan is hopeful that the coaching change and the return of Talanoa Hufanga will lead the 49er defense back to its dominant position among the NFL’s elite.
With most of San Francisco’s starters returning for one last championship run before serious roster overhauls, the franchise is looking to win that elusive sixth Vince Lombardi Trophy after falling short last season.
