Former Seattle Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright. Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Latest 49ers coaching hire is already familiar with the NFC West

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 3/6/24

The San Francisco 49ers have been known to pursue former members of the Seattle Seahawks, whether it be as players (Richard Sherman) or coaches (Robert Saleh).

They went to that well again with their latest assistant-coaching hire, adding former Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright as their new defensive quality control/linebacker assistant coach — a move that Wright maintained had nothing to do with the 49ers-Seahawks rivalry.

“I'm really, really happy for the Niners organization believing in me, trusting me with their franchise,” Wright said on the "K.J. All Day" podcast. “[I've been] competing against those guys since Day 1. My first-ever NFL game was against the Niners. … Here I am, 13, 14 years down the road about to be coaching for them. … This isn't some vendetta move. This is a really cool opportunity for me.”

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

During his 10-year run with the Seahawks, which included one Super Bowl championship and one Pro Bowl appearance, Wright had a 13-5 record against the 49ers while logging 102 tackles, five sacks and six passes defensed.

Wright will serve under new defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen, who also spent time as a Seahawks assistant coach from 2013 to 2020, starting as a special teams assistant coach before working his way up to assistant defensive backs coach and secondary coach.

Sorensen is the 49ers' fourth different defensive coordinator in the last five seasons. Both Saleh and DeMeco Ryans were hired away to head-coaching jobs with the New York Jets and Houston Texans, respectively, while Steve Wilks was fired shortly after losing Super Bowl LVIII to the Kansas City Chiefs last month.

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