SANTA CLARA, Calif - The 49ers on Tuesday officially made John Benton their offensive-line coach and added six other assistants, including former Pro Bowl linebacker DeMeco Ryans as a defensive quality control coach.
Ryans, 32, spent 10 seasons in the NFL after being drafted by the Houston Texans in the second round in 2006. He was with the Texans when 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan was an offensive assistant and when defensive coordinator Robert Saleh was a defensive assistant, including an assistant linebackers coach in 2009-10.
Ryans was named the NFL's defensive rookie of the year in 2006.