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The San Francisco 49ers had to make a large change to their coaching staff this offseason, as defensive coordinator Robert Saleh left to become the head coach of the Tennessee Titans.
To fill that void, the 49ers hired recently-fired Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, who worked with Kyle Shanahan in Tampa Bay (2004-05), Washington (2012-14) and Atlanta (2015-16).
Now with Morris in his new role, a role that he's held once before in the NFL (with the Los Angeles Rams from 2021-23) and once in college (with Kansas State in 2006), many are wondering what San Francisco's defense will look like in 2026.
Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport recently identified the best case scenario for the 49ers on that side of the ball, which is fairly simplistic.
"As sad as it sounds, the best-case scenario for the San Francisco 49ers in 2026 may well be just being able to field their starting defense," Davenport wrote. "The team's top-two defenders (edge-rusher Nick Bosa and inside linebacker Fred Warner) both went down with serious injuries early last season, and while the Niners managed to patch things together fairly well, those losses proved to be too much to overcome in the postseason."
Staying healthy was a battle for the 49ers last season, and if they want to reach their potential.
What's the worst case?
"Getting both of those players back at 100 percent to open the season isn't guaranteed, especially with Bosa, who tore his ACL for the second time last year," Davenport wrote. "There are also questions at the back end of the defense—cornerback Deommodore Lenoir is a capable veteran starter, but Upton Stout and Renardo Green are far less proven commodities. In the NFC West, a shaky pass-rush and/or secondary is a recipe for disaster—and the Niners could have both in 2026."
San Francisco's front seven was hard to watch for stretches in 2026. Things should improve with Bosa, Warner and 2025 first-round pick Mykel Williams returning from season-ending injuries, but who knows when they'll all be ready to go and how they'll look once they are.
More 49ers: 49ers QB Brock Purdy builds his perfect tight end at TE University
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Best, worst case scenarios for 49ers defense in 2026
Continue reading...
To fill that void, the 49ers hired recently-fired Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, who worked with Kyle Shanahan in Tampa Bay (2004-05), Washington (2012-14) and Atlanta (2015-16).
Now with Morris in his new role, a role that he's held once before in the NFL (with the Los Angeles Rams from 2021-23) and once in college (with Kansas State in 2006), many are wondering what San Francisco's defense will look like in 2026.
Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport recently identified the best case scenario for the 49ers on that side of the ball, which is fairly simplistic.
"As sad as it sounds, the best-case scenario for the San Francisco 49ers in 2026 may well be just being able to field their starting defense," Davenport wrote. "The team's top-two defenders (edge-rusher Nick Bosa and inside linebacker Fred Warner) both went down with serious injuries early last season, and while the Niners managed to patch things together fairly well, those losses proved to be too much to overcome in the postseason."
Staying healthy was a battle for the 49ers last season, and if they want to reach their potential.
What's the worst case?
"Getting both of those players back at 100 percent to open the season isn't guaranteed, especially with Bosa, who tore his ACL for the second time last year," Davenport wrote. "There are also questions at the back end of the defense—cornerback Deommodore Lenoir is a capable veteran starter, but Upton Stout and Renardo Green are far less proven commodities. In the NFC West, a shaky pass-rush and/or secondary is a recipe for disaster—and the Niners could have both in 2026."
San Francisco's front seven was hard to watch for stretches in 2026. Things should improve with Bosa, Warner and 2025 first-round pick Mykel Williams returning from season-ending injuries, but who knows when they'll all be ready to go and how they'll look once they are.
More 49ers: 49ers QB Brock Purdy builds his perfect tight end at TE University
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Best, worst case scenarios for 49ers defense in 2026
Continue reading...
