San Francisco 49ers

49ers hire former Browns coach Jim O'Neil as defensive coordinator

Published Jan. 26, 2016 7:01 p.m. ET

foxsports

San Francisco 49ers coach Chip Kelly filled one of the vital positions on his staff Tuesday by naming Jim O’Neil as his defensive coordinator.

O'Neil, whose hiring was confirmed by Mike Garafolo of FOXSports.com, comes to the Bay Area after spending the past two seasons as the Cleveland Browns' defensive coordinator. He replaces Eric Mangini, who served three seasons with the 49ers and previously was the head coach with the Browns (2009-10).'

Cleveland's defense made dramatic strides in O'Neil's first season, climbing from 23rd to ninth in points allowed with an average of 21.1 per game while finishing second in the league with 21 interceptions.

The Browns took a marked dip this past season under O'Neil, tumbling to 29th in points allowed (27.0) while ranking 27th in total defense at 379.2 yards per game.

O'Neil, 37, spent one season as the linebackers coach with the Buffalo Bills in 2013 and was on Rex Ryans's staff with the New York Jets from 2009-20012, the latter three seasons as an assistant defensive backs coach. He has familiarity with a 3-4 defense similar that Kelly plans to use with San Francisco.