49ers rumors: 3 DeMeco Ryans replacements already on the radar

Chris Harris would be an outside-the-box hire for the 49ers with big upside

For some, Chris Harris might not be a household name but he’s become a bit of a hot commodity after the 40-year-old was the Washington Commanders defensive backs coach this past season, helping lead the defense to a Top 5 mark in terms of passing yards allowed on the season. That’s why he was recently hired by the Titans to join Mike Vrabel’s staff, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that the 49ers are looking to interview him to replace Ryans.

Harris, who played eight seasons in the NFL, would be another young former player in the same manner that Ryans was when he joined Kyle Shanahan’s staff. He’s an ascending star in coaching circles and his albeit brief body of work speaks for itself. This would undoubtedly be a big jump in responsibility but it’s an opportunity he’s earned to this point and that could pay dividends for San Francisco if he’s hired and continues on his current coaching trajectory.

Steve Wilks could bring the 49ers a similar injury to what Ryans did

Whenever the Carolina Panthers began their head coaching search, there was no shortage of fans who wanted Steve Wilks to have the interim tag removed from his title and be hired as the next head coach. That, of course, didn’t happen with the David Tepper-led organization opting for Frank Reich. But now Wilks is on the table for defensive coordinator jobs, a role he held in Carolina until Matt Rhule got fired this season, and has already had an interview request from the 49ers.

Wilks is one of the most respected defensive minds in the NFL at this point. Yes, he had some trouble when it came to his head-coaching tenure in Arizona, but he got that job because of his prowess coaching the defense. Even in Carolina, despite having some real holes on the roster, he coached up young players and made the Panthers a competent unit. More importantly, he was beloved by the team and was a true leader.

That’s something that made Ryans special in San Francisco and something Wilks could seamlessly replace.