49ers remove DC role from Nick Sorensen, promote Klay Kubiak to OC

The San Francisco 49ers have removed Nick Sorensen from his role as defensive coordinator and promoted passing game specialist Klay Kubiak to offensive coordinator, coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday.

Shanahan said he would continue to call the offensive plays.

He also said he would like to retain Sorensen, 46, telling reporters that a move to special teams coordinator is possible.

San Francisco has an opening there after Brian Schneider was fired earlier this week.

Also, assistant head coach Brandon Staley will be a candidate to replace Sorensen as defensive coordinator.

Kubiak, 36, has spent the past four seasons in various positions in the San Francisco organization. He is the son of former NFL coach Gary Kubiak and the brother of current New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.

Kubiak handled play-calling duties for San Francisco's 47-24 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Journeyman quarterback Joshua Dobbs passed for 326 yards and the 49ers had 436 in the game.

The 49ers (6-11) missed the playoffs after reaching at least the NFC Championship game in four of the previous five seasons.

San Francisco finished 29th in points allowed (25.6 per game), including 87 combined points in the final two games of the campaign.

Sorensen received his promotion last March, replacing Steve Wilks. Wilks was the DC for one season in 2023 after succeeding DeMeco Ryans, now the head coach of the Houston Texans.

Sorensen joined the 49ers in 2022 as a defensive assistant after serving as an assistant with the Seattle Seahawks (2013-20) and as the Jacksonville Jaguars' special teams coordinator (2021).

--Field Level Media