Kyle Shanahan makes another coaching addition to his staff before the ree agency begins.
The San Francisco 49ers continue to reshape their defensive coaching staff this offseason, adding another experienced voice to the sidelines.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan is bringing former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus onto the staff for the 2026 season.
According to reports on Thursday, Eberflus will join San Francisco as the assistant head coach of defense.
The position is similar to the role previously held by veteran coach Gus Bradley, who departed earlier this offseason to follow former 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh to the Tennessee Titans.
Eberflus, 55, brings decades of coaching experience to a 49ers organization that has made several defensive changes since the end of the 2025 season.
San Francisco already hired former Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris as its new defensive coordinator earlier this offseason, replacing Saleh after he accepted the head coaching job in Tennessee.
While Morris is expected to oversee the defense and likely call plays, Eberflus will serve as a senior advisor and assistant head coach focused on defensive planning, development, and game preparation.
Shanahan has leaned on this model in recent seasons, keeping a veteran defensive mind on staff to help with game planning and strategy.
Eberflus most recently served as the Dallas Cowboys' defensive coordinator during the 2025 season.
His time in Dallas was brief, however, as he was dismissed in January following a disappointing defensive campaign.
Prior to that stint, Eberflus spent three seasons as the Bears' head coach from 2022 through 2024.
His tenure in Chicago ended with an in-season dismissal during the 2024 campaign.
Despite those setbacks, Eberflus remains well respected around the league for his defensive expertise.
Before becoming a head coach, he built a strong reputation as defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts from 2018 to 2021, where his units consistently ranked among the NFL’s most disciplined and opportunistic defenses.
His defensive philosophy also closely aligns with Morris's. Both coaches have roots in the Tampa 2 defensive scheme, a system that emphasizes speed, zone coverage, and disciplined pursuit.
That familiarity could help create continuity within the 49ers’ defensive structure heading into the 2026 season.
For Shanahan, the move reflects a continued emphasis on surrounding his coaching staff with experienced voices.
In previous years, San Francisco has employed veteran defensive assistants such as Brandon Staley and Bradley to support the coordinator and help manage the complexities of an NFL defense.
With Morris leading the unit and Eberflus now joining the staff, the 49ers are assembling a defensive brain trust aimed at keeping the team among the league’s elite.
As San Francisco prepares for the upcoming season, the addition of Eberflus adds another seasoned strategist to a coaching staff determined to maintain its championship aspirations.