Latest 49ers coach hire is…

Former Seattle Seahawks players like Richard Sherman and coaches like Robert Saleh have been pursued by the San Francisco 49ers.

With the addition of former Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright as their new defensive quality control/linebacker assistant coach, they went back to that well once more. Wright insisted that the decision was unrelated to the 49ers-Seahawks rivalry.

K.J. Wright is joining the #49ers as an assistant linebackers coach.

I spoke with him at the Super Bowl where he joked about rooting for the Chiefs, but also broke down SF's linebackers and their play. Also told me that Kyle Shanahan is the best play caller in the NFL. #FTTB pic.twitter.com/RHpQu07kgh

— Matt Lively (@mattblively) March 4, 2024

Wright stated on the “K.J. All Day” podcast, “I’m really, really happy for the Niners organization believing in me, trusting me with their franchise.” Since Day 1, I’ve been battling against those guys. I watched my very first NFL game versus the Niners. Here I am, thirteen or fourteen years later, going to be their coach. This is not a retaliatory action.

When I chatted with him at the Super Bowl, he laughed about being a Chiefs fan while simultaneously criticizing the play of San Francisco’s linebackers. told me that the NFL’s finest play caller is Kyle Shanahan as well.

Wright had a 13-5 record versus the 49ers during his ten-year tenure with the Seahawks, which includes one Super Bowl win and one Pro Bowl appearance. He also recorded 102 tackles, five sacks, and six passes defensed.

Nick Sorensen, the new defensive coordinator, was previously an assistant coach for the Seahawks from 2013 to 2020. He began as an assistant coach on special teams and worked his way up to assistant defensive backs coach and secondary coach. Wright will report to Sorensen.