March 31, 2026, 12:21 p.m. PT

The San Francisco 49ers may have a new coaching superstar on their staff.

KJ Wright was promoted from defensive quality control coach to linebackers coach for the 2026 season, marking a rapid rise after spending just two years on the 49ers’ coaching staff − his first two seasons as a coach after an 11-year playing career. Former 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who left to become the head coach with the Tennessee Titans, told reporters at NFL owners meetings that Wright was considered “off limits” for poaching to Saleh’s new staff.

“He’s going to be a coordinator really quick,” Saleh said per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. “I could see him easily progressing the way DeMeco did. He’s got the same mindset. He’s got the same respect from his players. KJ’s going to be really good.”

That’s high praise coming from Saleh, who oversaw Ryans’ quick rise from defensive assistant, to position coach, to defensive coordinator with San Francisco. The 49ers knew early that Ryans would be a coordinator and he stepped in seamlessly for Saleh, who took the New York Jets head coaching job in 2021. Ryans spent just two seasons as San Francisco’s DC before earning the head coaching job with the Houston Texans.

It’s hard not to put Wright in the same breath as Ryans given their remarkably similar journeys. Ryans played for 10 years, became a position coach after one season as a defensive quality control coach. Wright spent 11 seasons in the NFL as a linebacker and became a position coach after two seasons as a defensive QC.

Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.

Saleh himself was a linebackers coach in Jacksonville before becoming the 49ers’ DC for the first time in 2017.

With Raheem Morris holding down the defensive coordinator spot, there’s a chance the 49ers are in the market for a new DC again soon if Morris is given another chance to be a head coach. Since Ryans was hired away, the 49ers haven’t had a great internal candidate to fill the DC job. Now it appears they have someone waiting in the wings and they’re eager to keep him in their building.

More 49ers: 49ers trade back, still land ideal weapon in mock draft