49ers make strange hire of former Bears head coach after disaster season as Cowboys' DC

The San Francisco 49ers have had some turnover on their coaching staff this offseason, most notably with the defensive side of the ball.

Robert Saleh left the defensive coordinator position behind, going to the Tennessee Titans to be their head coach. Raheem Morris is the new defensive coordinator, but the 49ers are still adding to their coaching staff this offseason.

According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the 49ers are hiring former Chicago Bears head coach and Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after a disastrous 2025 season in Dallas.

49ers make odd Matt Eberflus hiring

"The 49ers have hired Matt Eberflus as their assistant head coach of defense, per sources," Pelissero reports. "Eberflus - the former Bears head coach and most recently Cowboys defensive coordinator - fills a key role vacated when Gus Bradley left for Tennessee."

This job for Eberflus is not a prominent one for the 49ers, as it's a Dwight Schrute - assistant to the regional manager - esque position.

Gus Bradley held this role last year, and he followed Saleh to the Titans this offseason. While it's a role to fill for the 49ers, choosing Eberflus is an odd one.

Last season, the Cowboys' defense, with Eberflus in charge, gave up 4,276 passing yards and 35 touchdowns to go with 2,133 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns.

Overall, the Cowboys' defense ranked 32nd out of 32 teams in points allowed (511), 30th in yards allowed (6,409), and 30th in turnovers (12).

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While the offense in Dallas was good last year, their defense was one of the worst in the NFL. They allowed more points than any team in the league and the third-most yards in the NFL.

The 49ers hiring the defensive coordinator behind such a defense for a prominent coaching role in San Francisco is a strange choice.

Hopefully, the poor play from the Cowboys last year won't carry over to San Francisco; otherwise, this hire might take on a new light for the 49ers by season's end.

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