49ers Hiring Former Cowboys DC Matt Eberflus to Replace Gus Bradley

The San Francisco 49ers are making a significant change to their defensive coaching staff for the 2026 NFL season, adding a seasoned defensive mind to the fold. According to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero, the team has hired Matt Eberflus, the former Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator, to serve as their assistant head coach of defense. This hiring comes after the 49ers lost a pair of prominent defensive coaches in the 2026 offseason.

A New Defensive Mindset

Eberflus’ hiring is an important move for the 49ers, who have undergone considerable changes on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh was hired by the Tennessee Titans, and Gus Bradley, who served as San Francisco’s assistant head coach of defense in 2025, followed him to Tennessee as the defensive coordinator.

With both Saleh and Bradley gone, Eberflus will take over the position left by Bradley. The 49ers are hoping that Eberflus‘s experience and track record will help stabilize and improve their defense. He will work alongside Raheem Morris, the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, who was previously the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. Together, they will look to overhaul a San Francisco defense that struggled in 2025, ranking 25th in defensive EPA per play and finishing with a league-low 20 sacks.

Eberflus’ Journey Through the NFL

Before his stint with the Cowboys, Matt Eberflus spent parts of three seasons as the head coach of the Chicago Bears. Unfortunately, his tenure in Chicago was not successful, with a dismal 14-32 record across 46 games. He was fired midway through the 2024 season after a Thanksgiving loss to the Detroit Lions, making him the first head coach in Bears history to be fired during the season.

While his time in Chicago was a failure, Eberflus had a more successful run as the defensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts. During his four-year tenure with the Colts, he coached three top-10 scoring defenses, with his units consistently ranking in the top 10 in takeaways. Eberflus’s defensive schemes were built around being opportunistic and forcing turnovers, which earned him praise during his time in Indianapolis.

A Fresh Start with the 49ers

The 49ers are hoping to get the version of Eberflus that led the Colts to defensive success, rather than the one that struggled with the Cowboys. While his one-year stint in Dallas was disappointing, with the Cowboys defense ranking last in both points allowed per game and defensive EPA per play, the 49ers believe he can bring a fresh perspective and help plug the gaps left by Saleh and Bradley.

As part of his role with the 49ers, Eberflus will need to turn around a defense that is coming off a down year. The 49ers have an impressive roster, and they need someone who can make the most of the defensive talent already in place. The addition of Eberflus signals a shift in the 49ers’ approach, and if he can recapture the form he had with the Colts, he could help the team return to its dominant defensive form.

Looking Forward

For the 49ers, Matt Eberflus’ hiring is a pivotal move as they look to bounce back after a tough 2025 campaign. With Eberflus’ experience and knowledge, paired with Raheem Morris’ leadership, the 49ers’ defense could be on the verge of a resurgence. Their focus will be on improving their pass rush, bolstering their coverage, and becoming more aggressive in creating turnovers.

If Eberflus can restore his reputation as a defensive mastermind, the 49ers’ defense could once again become one of the league’s elite units, capable of carrying the team deep into the playoffs. The pressure is on Eberflus, but with the right adjustments, he has the potential to elevate the 49ers’ defense to new heights.