Kyle Shanahan called Gus Bradley the 'obvious' candidate. That’s not the compliment it sounds like

Robert Saleh left for Tennessee. The San Francisco 49ers need a new defensive coordinator. Kyle Shanahan called Gus Bradley the “obvious” candidate. The defense ranked last in sacks last season. Whoever takes the job inherits Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and a unit that underperformed.

Saleh made the playoffs with an injured roster

Saleh’s final season in San Francisco included a playoff run despite significant injuries. Players like Fred Warner and Nick Bosa produced under his system. Tennessee hired him away. The next coordinator has to earn the trust of a locker room that believed in Saleh. That’s a harder transition than just installing a new scheme.

Shanahan called Bradley the “obvious” candidate

Kyle Shanahan used that word specifically: obvious. Bradley has experience and familiarity with the organization. He also inherits a defense that ranked 32nd in sacks last season. Nick Bosa is on the roster. The pass rush still finished last. Bradley would need to fix that immediately. Being the obvious choice doesn’t mean he’s the right one — it means he’s the safe one.

The 2025 rookies didn’t contribute like Seattle’s did

The Seahawks had rookies playing key roles on their Super Bowl run. San Francisco’s 2025 draft class didn’t provide the same impact. The new defensive coordinator has to develop young players faster. The 49ers can’t afford another season where rookies are learning instead of producing. Seattle showed what’s possible when first-year players contribute immediately. San Francisco’s class needs to close that gap.

Bosa and Warner won’t be in their prime forever

The 49ers have a window with their current core. Bosa and Warner are playing at a high level now. That won’t last indefinitely. The defensive coordinator hire determines whether San Francisco maximizes this window or wastes it. Every week without a hire is a week of lost preparation. The job is attractive. The pressure that comes with it is why “obvious” might not be enough.