49ers Hire Former Seahawks LB K.J. Wright to Coaching Staff

Additions on defense have been the recent theme for the San Francisco 49ers.

It started with filling their vacancy at defensive coordinator with Nick Sorensen, then adding Brandon Staley as an assistant head coach. Now, they have added former Seattle Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright to their staff as an assistant linebackers and defensive quality control coach.

"Yes, it is true. I have become the new linebacker assistant coach/defensive quality control coach of the San Francisco 49ers," Wright said on his YouTube channel. "I am thoroughly excited. I am really really happy for this opportunity. I am really really happy for the 49ers organization believing me, trusting me with their franchise."

Bringing on Wright is incredibly random for the 49ers. But anyone who has followed the 49ers under Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch know that they LOVE to hire former players to their coaching staff. From Wes Welker, Miles Austin, DeMeco Ryans, Dashon Goldson, Daniel Bullocks, and more. So, while the hiring of Wright comes out of left field, this has been a common theme from the 49ers for years now.

Wright has been retired from the NFL since 2022 after an 11 year career. He spent 10 of them with the Seahawks earning one Super Bowl victory and an All-Pro honor during his tenure. He finished his career with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021. During his time with the Seahawks, Wright was a nightmare for the 49ers.

Bobby Wagner may have gotten the spotlight, but Wright wasn't that far off from him as an amazing linebacker. I'm sure the matchups with him is what always kept Kyle Shanahan having his name in the back of his head as a coach if the need arose. Wright is now another coach who Shanahan has hired with ties to that great Seattle defense.

"To Kyle Shanahan, to John Lynch, the 49er faithful, I'm excited. I'm ready to roll. It's gonna be really really fun."