A fifth candidate for the 49ers’ defensive coordinator job has emerged. After identifying Chiefs DBs coach David Merritt as a candidate, the NFC champions are eyeing another AFC West assistant.
The 49ers met with Raiders safeties coach Gerald Alexander, according to The Athletic’s Matt Barrows. Alexander has been an NFL DBs coach since 2020, spending time in Miami, Pittsburgh and Las Vegas. Alexander took the job in Las Vegas this offseason; he was with the Steelers in 2023.
The Raiders just announced Alexander as part of their finalized coaching staff last week, bringing him aboard to work under retained DC Patrick Graham. This is not Alexander’s first shot at a DC job, however. He interviewed for the Jaguars’ post in 2022.
Alexander, 39, spent the past two years as the Steelers’ assistant defensive backs coach. An ex-Dolphins assistant under Brian Flores, Alexander followed his former boss to Pittsburgh in 2022. Flores stopped through Pennsylvania as linebackers coach that year, coming over after filing a discrimination lawsuit. Flores moved on and became the Vikings’ DC, but Alexander stayed on Mike Tomlin‘s staff. Unless the 49ers hire him, Alexander will work under Graham in Vegas.
A former NFL DB, Alexander spent the 2010s coaching in the college ranks. That period ended with a three-year stay in the Bay Area, when he served as Cal’s DBs coach. Via PFR’s Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker, here is how the 49ers’ pursuit of a Steve Wilks replacement looks:
- Gerald Alexander, safeties coach (Raiders): Interviewed 3/1
- Daniel Bullocks, defensive backs coach (49ers): Interviewed 2/28
- David Merritt, defensive backs coach (Chiefs): To interview
- Nick Sorensen, defensive passing game specialist (49ers): Interviewed
- Brandon Staley, former head coach (Chargers): Interviewed
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