The San Francisco 49ers formally announced the firing of special teams coordinator Brian Schneider on January 7, 2025, following a tumultuous 2024 season marked by repeated mistakes and glaring inefficiencies. This decision, made by head coach Kyle Shanahan, was largely motivated by the team's disappointing 6-11 record, which saw them finish last in the NFC West.
Schneider, 53, had served as special teams coordinator for the 49ers since his hiring in March 2022, and this season proved to be particularly challenging. Under his leadership, the special teams unit was plagued by numerous errors, culminating in the worst ranking among teams across the league. Schneider's unit finished dead last, with expected points added on special teams hitting negative-47.67. This gap was almost 24 points worse than the next closest team, the Atlanta Falcons, which ranked as one of the significant contributors to the 49ers' struggles.
Throughout the season, the issues were evident with missed field goals, penalties, and poor performance on returns. Shanahan reflected on the team's disastrous special teams play, stating, “We’ve got to get a lotbetter at it. It’s pretty obvious to everybody.” The reality of Schneider’s shortcomings became clearer as the weeks progressed; the 49ers averaged just 9.2 yards per punt return—ranking low compared to their counterparts and surrendering long returns, including damaging 13.7 yards per return.
The 2024 campaign saw kicker Jake Moody, who was successfully drafted by the 49ers at Schneider’s recommendation during the 2023 NFL Draft, struggle significantly. After sustaining a high ankle sprain early, Moody's performance dwindled, and he finished with only 11 successful kicks out of his last 20 attempts. He recorded 18 penalties, placing the special teams unit amid the league’s highest for infractions, reflecting how Schneider's game strategy fell short of expectations.
During discussions leading to the firing, Shanahan had previously expressed optimism earlier this season, stating, “It hasn’t entered my head at all” when asked about concerns related to Schneider’s coaching. He had hoped for significant improvement as injuries impacted player performance throughout the year. Unfortunately, the anticipated turnaround never materialized, with missed opportunities echoing throughout the 49ers’ losses.
Over the season, the 49ers faced numerous pitfalls related to special teams, including blocked punts and costly turnovers. Notably, during the season's final game against the Arizona Cardinals, errors continued where Moody missed yet another field goal and allowed the Cardinals to convert on fake punts.
Schneider's dismissal marks the first significant move of the offseason for the 49ers as they ponder changes needed to rejuvenate their special teams unit. Sources confirm Schneider's termination, which marks the end of his three-year tenure as he was brought on board to replace Richard Hightower. Schneider previously garnered experience over more than eleven seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and one with the Jacksonville Jaguars prior to joining the 49ers.
Looking forward, the organization intends to evaluate possible candidates to fill the special teams coordinator position. Shanahan, alongside general manager John Lynch, faces high expectations to improve these units moving forward, especially considering the need for reliability within special teams to support both offensive and defensive strategies effectively. Schneider's successor will need to address these flaws head-on as the 49ers aim to reclaim their competitive edge during the upcoming season, casting aside the disappointments of 2024.