Sadly: The Key Man Of 49ers Has Sustained A Brutal Neck Injury With Two Legs Broken.

Next Thursday is the NFL Scouting Combine, and since the 49ers haven’t hired a defensive coordinator yet, they really ought to get on it.

Pundits will make assumptions about the 49ers’ choice for the position’s hire until they do. New York Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will be hired by the 49ers, according to a recent prediction made by Tim Kawakami of The Athletic.

3. Ulbrich is from the Bay Area, attended San Jose State, and played for the 49ers, so he might want to work for them. 4. He coaches under Robert Saleh, who coached for the 49ers, meaning Ulbrich is familiar with and has experience coaching the 49ers’ Wide 9 defensive scheme. 5. He was a linebacker and a linebackers coach, like DeMeco Ryans, who was the 49ers defensive coordinator after Saleh, who also coached linebackers earlier in his career.

Of course, the Jets don’t have to let Ulbrich leave for a lateral move. But the 49ers just let assistant head coach Anthony Lynn go to the Washington Commanders, which means the 49ers could hire Ulbrich as their assistant head coach/defensive coordinator and give him a big raise.

The only problem with this potential move is that it might ruin the relationship between Saleh and Kyle Shanahan, considering Saleh is in his fourth season with the Jets and could get fired if he misses the playoffs next season. Would Shanahan really poach his friend’s defensive coordinator and leave him in a lurch?