It was not long ago that the NFL world was praising the San Francisco 49ers. After demoting Nick Sorensen from his defensive coordinator role and firing special teams coordinator Brian Schneider, a sigh of relief occurred.

Townsend is a former longtime Steelers cornerback who has managed secondaries across the NFL over the last decade. He has been a defensive backs coach for the Titans (2016-17), Giants (2018, assistant), Bears (2019-21), Jaguars (2022-23) and Lions (2024). The last two stops have included duties as the defensive passing game coordinator.

Robert Saleh is reportedly closer to becoming the San Francisco 49ers’ defensive coordinator, with his contract set to be special compared to other coaches in the same position. The San Francisco 49ers are looking for all the help they can get heading into the 2025 season,