49ers Hire Former Bears Head Coach as Assistant Head Coach of Defense

The move comes after Matt Eberflus' disastrous 2025 season as Cowboys' defensive coordinator.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The San Francisco 49ers have hired former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus as their new assistant head coach of defense, filling a role vacated when Gus Bradley left to join the Tennessee Titans' coaching staff. Eberflus previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, where his unit struggled mightily in 2025, ranking near the bottom of the league in several key defensive metrics.

Why it matters

The 49ers' defense was a strength of the team in recent seasons under former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who left to become the Titans' head coach. The hiring of Eberflus, whose Cowboys defense was one of the worst in the NFL last year, is a curious choice that raises questions about the 49ers' defensive plans going forward.

The details

Eberflus was the head coach of the Chicago Bears in 2021 and 2022 before being fired. He then joined the Cowboys as their defensive coordinator in 2023, but his unit struggled immensely in 2025, ranking 32nd in points allowed, 30th in yards allowed, and 30th in turnovers forced.

  • Eberflus was hired by the 49ers in March 2026.
  • He previously served as the Bears' head coach in 2021 and 2022 before joining the Cowboys as defensive coordinator in 2023.

The players

Matt Eberflus

A former head coach of the Chicago Bears and most recently the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, Eberflus has been hired by the San Francisco 49ers as their new assistant head coach of defense.

Robert Saleh

The former defensive coordinator for the 49ers, Saleh left the team to become the new head coach of the Tennessee Titans.

Raheem Morris

The new defensive coordinator for the 49ers, replacing Robert Saleh.

Gus Bradley

The former assistant head coach of defense for the 49ers, Bradley has also left the team to join the Titans' coaching staff.

Nick Bosa

The star defensive end for the 49ers, who will be looking to continue his dominant play under the team's new defensive coaching staff.

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What they’re saying

“The 49ers have hired Matt Eberflus as their assistant head coach of defense, per sources.”

— Tom Pelissero, NFL Network reporter (NFL Network)

What’s next

The 49ers will look to integrate Eberflus into their defensive coaching staff and see if he can help improve a unit that struggled at times in 2025 under the previous defensive coordinator.

The takeaway

The hiring of Eberflus, whose Cowboys defense was one of the worst in the NFL last season, is a curious move by the 49ers as they look to maintain their defensive excellence following the departure of Robert Saleh. The success or failure of this hire could have significant implications for the 49ers' fortunes in the 2026 season.