The San Francisco 49ers announced today that they have hired former Cleveland Browns DC Jim O’Neil to be the team’s new defensive coordinator. O’Neil, 37, who now takes over for DC Eric Mangini and his 29th ranked defense, will surely have the tough task of rebuilding a unit that was once the backbone of the team.
So what exactly did 49ers HC Chip Kelly see in O’Neil that made him cut ties with Mangini after their meeting? Your guess is as good as mine, but maybe Kelly wanted continuity among his new coaching staff and the hiring of former Browns DBC Jeff Hafley may have played a role.