Which teams have requested interviews with 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans

The 49ers are in an interesting spot this week with DeMeco Ryans.

The second-year defensive coordinator has several head coaching interviews set up across the league this week. Ryans reportedly has four interviews lined up with teams, starting Thursday with the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans. The Arizona Cardinals have also received permission to interview Ryans, but nothing has been scheduled. On Monday, the Indianapolis Colts also requested permission to interview Ryans.

Mike Kaye, of the Charlotte Observer, noted the Panthers reached out for permission to interview Ryans, but because of logistics, could not schedule a time to meet.

Despite asking for permission to interview #49ers DC DeMeco Ryans, the #Panthers will not host Ryans for an interview, per league source.

Logistics are cited for the reasoning, per the source. Both parties could circle back later in the process.

— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) January 13, 2023

His head coach knows a thing or two about the interview process in the postseason, taking the head job with the 49ers prior to the Atlanta Falcons’ Super Bowl loss to the New England Patriots. The main difference this time is that Ryans has to conduct these interviews while also preparing for the NFC divisional round against the Dallas Cowboys in the same week. Similar to Mike McDaniel last season, Shanahan’s advice is simple: Carve out a block of time to take care of the future, and then get back to work on the present.

“I think my advice is you got to set [those interviews] aside and specific times that you are going to deal with it,” Shanahan said. “I think he has a couple of times set aside for Thursday and Friday, which he’ll do two interviews I believe with Denver and Houston, and then I think he’ll plan on the other ones after…So we need to set the time aside for that. A lot for DeMeco to prepare for but I think he is prepared for it. And when you’re done with those, you go right back to the most important thing at hand and that’s find a way to win this Sunday.”

When he was asked about it last week, DeMeco Ryans said it’s been humbling to get requests for head coaching interviews.

“It’s humbling when you think about a lot of guys who’ve coached before me and a lot of guys put in a lot of years, a guy like Bobby Turner comes to mind and all of the years he put in, so I think about guys like that and them not being able to get the opportunity and me, truly being able to go represent for them,” Ryans said. “And that’s what it means, it means a lot for the other guys that been before me. And it’s special to be able to be in a select group, to have head coaching interviews and people requesting, it’s a special moment, it’s a proud moment and I’m very thankful and grateful just to be spoken of in that light. I’m very humble, very grateful for those opportunities.”

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