Chip Kelly’s coaching staff is now reportedly full after the San Francisco 49ers hired Jim O’Neil to become the defensive coordinator, per Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area.
O’Neil is making a lateral move, having filled the same position last year with the Cleveland Browns.
The 37-year old comes from the Rex Ryan coaching tree, having been with him from 2009-2012. He started as a quality control/defensive backs coach and worked his way into an assistant defensive backs coach under Ryan before moving up in the world.
Having coordinated in Cleveland the past two years, O’Neil’s defenses ranked No. 23 and No. 27 overall, which may be cause for alarm for 49ers fans. However, on a positive note the Browns did rank No. 9 in scoring defense in his first season, and he was coaching outside linebackers with the Buffalo Bills in 2013 when the defense recorded 57 sacks.
He has quite a challenge ahead of him, coordinating defense opposite a Kelly-led offense. Last year, the Philadelphia Eagles played 1,148 snaps, per Maiocco, which was more than any other team in the NFL.
This means either the offense needs to be putting up points or the defense needs to step up big time in the fitness department to keep up with the amount of plays they’ll be on the field next year.