SANTA CLARA — Maybe — just maybe — this is the next evolution of Kyle Shanahan. Perhaps this is the form the ninth-year and now beleaguered 49ers head coach — who sat at the dais at Levi’s Stadium, unshaven and gaunt after a Super Bowl-or-bust season turned into a six-win, never-sniffed-the-playoffs nightmare — has always needed to take.

The San Francisco 49ers are on the search for a defensive coordinator once again after firing Nick Sorensen following just one season in that role.

In retrospect, Nick Sorensen was doomed from the start. That's why Kyle Shanahan is looking to hire a more experienced defensive coordinator this time around.

Kyle Shanahan just finished his fourth double-digit-loss season in eight years. And now Fox Sports 1 Analyst Emmanuel Acho thinks Shanahan is on the hot seat.

The 49ers are hoping to keep Sorensen around on Kyle Shanahan's staff in a lesser role, just not as the defensive play-caller. Sorensen has spent the last three years in the organization, holding titles of defensive assistant, defensive passing game coordinator and nickelback coach before being named defensive coordinator prior to last season.

The 49ers are promoting Klay Kubiak to offensive coordinator, per NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco, though head coach Kyle Shanahan said that he will retain play-calling duties.