Report: 49ers DL coach Kris Kocurek staying with team for 2023 season
Feb 7, 2023, 10:51 AM | Updated: 11:44 am
SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 8: Defensive Line Coach Kris Kocurek of the San Francisco 49ers with the defensive line on the sidelines during the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on January 8, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers defeated the Cardinals 38-13. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
It looks like the 49ers will retain at least one member of the 2022 defensive coaching staff in Kris Kocurek.
Reports surfaced Monday night that the 49ers’ defensive line coach will remain with San Francisco for the 2023 season. After DeMeco Ryans accepted the head coach position for the Houston Texans, Kocurek began to attract interest for their vacant DC spot. But after long talks with the 49ers’ and Texans’ brass, it appears he will be staying in the Bay for the time being.
The first to report the news was KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson out of Houston, stating that via league sources, Kocirek would not be joining Ryans’ staff.
49ers keep their D-line coach Kris Kocurek. Major win for them https://t.co/b1EaRhWDcZ
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) February 7, 2023
Last week, CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson reported that the 49ers would be taking a lengthy approach with the process of hiring their next defensive coordinator. After missing out on Vic Fangio to the Dolphins, San Francisco pivoted to former panthers’ interim head coach Steve Wilks and Commanders’ DB coach Chris Harris as possible replacements.
Internally, the 49ers also considered Kocurek for promotion, moving him to coordinator role with the team.
#49ers are committed to having a true process of vetting their next hire at defensive coordinator, even with Vic Fangio's vast resume, per league source.
The #49ers are still evaluating candidates including Chris Harris, Steve Wilks & the possibility of promoting Kris Kocurek.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) February 2, 2023
But after talks, the D-Line coach elected to remain in his role with the 49ers for 2023 and will now serve under Wilks on the 49ers’ staff. News broke Tuesday that the team is reportedly hiring the former interim head coach to be the next DC of San Francisco.
The 49ers had hoped to keep the defense consistent with last season, and they achieved that by hiring Wilks and his 4-3 base scheme.
“I love our defensive staff, I love our defense. I’m trying to get something where we don’t have to turn much over,” Shanahan said last Wednesday. “I would love to keep our same staff, so I’m going to talk to some guys on our staff. I’m going to talk to some guys outside of our staff and hopefully whichever way we decide to go, whether we bring in a new guy or not, that it’s someone who can work with who we have and what we’ve accomplished here because I love the scheme that we run and I feel the foundation we have on the D-line, at linebacker, at corner, at safety, I think our players fit very well in it too, so I’m hoping to find someone who fits with us personality-wise and scheme wise.”
