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49ers denied request to interview Falcons secondary coach

Originally posted on 49ers Webzone | By David Bonilla | Last updated Jan 22, 2026 4:21 PM ET

The San Francisco 49ers were denied permission to interview Atlanta Falcons secondary coach Justin Hood, according to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero. The Falcons blocked San Francisco's request to speak with Hood, keeping him in place on their defensive staff.

Pelissero did not specify which role the 49ers were considering Hood for. However, the request comes shortly after San Francisco lost defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who was recently hired as the Tennessee Titans' head coach, creating a notable vacancy on the 49ers' coaching staff.

"New Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski retained [defensive coordinator] Jeff Ulbrich and wants to keep some other staff members in place as well," Pelissero reported.

The 49ers requested an interview with Falcons secondary coach Justin Hood for a high-ranking staff position, but Atlanta blocked it, per source.
New Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski retained DC Jeff Ulbrich and wants to keep some other staff members in place as well.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 22, 2026

Hood has served as the Falcons' secondary coach since 2024. Before joining Atlanta, he spent three seasons with the Green Bay Packers (2021–2023) as a defensive quality control coach. Hood also has extensive experience from the collegiate level, where he held multiple defensive coaching roles before entering the NFL ranks.

This article first appeared on 49ers Webzone and was syndicated with permission.

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