Colt Anderson is in his second season as the 49ers assistant special teams coach. He joined the 49ers after spending the 2024 season as the special teams coordinator for the Tennessee Titans.
Throughout his first season with the 49ers in 2025, Anderson assisted special teams coordinator Brant Boyer in a turnaround for the special teams unit. The team improved in multiple categories and ranked in the top 10 in the NFL in field goal percentage (91.7% – seventh), yards per kick return (27.2 – seventh) and yards per punt return (11.6 – 10th). He helped guide K Eddy Piñeiro to a career year, as he converted on 28 of his 29 field goal attempts (96.6%) and 34 of his 38 extra point attempts (89.5%). Piñeiro shared the lead for the highest field goal percentage in the NFL (minimum 25 attempts) and finished with the second-highest field goal percentage in a single season in franchise history. He made each of his first 26 field goal attempts, which marked the longest streak by any kicker to begin their first season with the 49ers. Boyer also vaulted San Franciso's return unit into one of the best in the NFL with WR Skyy Moore. Under his guidance, Moore registered 1,050 kick return yards, the seventh-most in the NFL, and averaged 26.9 yards per kickoff return, ranking fifth in the NFL. Moore also ranked in the top five in punt return yards (417 – fourth) and average yards per punt return (12.3 – fifth). In addition to Piñeiro and Moore's success, Boyer also guided LB Luke Gifford and LS Jon Weeks to selections to the 2026 Pro Bowl. Gifford earned the honor after finishing the season with 21 special teams tackles, tied for the ninth-most in the NFL.
With Tennessee, Anderson led a special teams unit that ranked fourth in kickoff return yards (1,081), fifth in field goal percentage (92.6%) and eighth in yards per punt (49.2%). Under his guidance, P Ryan Stonehouse ranked third in the NFL among qualifying punters in average yards per punt (50.6).
Prior to joining the Titans, Anderson spent four years as an assistant special teams coach with the Cincinnati Bengals. In 2023, Cincinnati's special teams units ranked 10th in the NFL in punt return average (10.2), eighth in opponent punt return average (7.0), second in opponent kickoff return average (17.0) and fifth in opponent net punting average (40.2). Under his guidance, WR Charlie Jones ranked second among rookies for the most punt return yard average (10.8) and P Brad Robbins ranked second among rookies for the most punt yard average (40.3). K Evan McPherson made 26 of 31 field goals and all 40 extra point attempts on the season.
In 2022, Anderson worked closely with rookie LS Cal Adomitis and P Drue Chrisman. Chrisman averaged 47.4 yards per punt on 28 punts, with 13 downed inside the 20-yard line. Anderson also helped continue to develop McPherson as he converted 24 of 29 field goal attempts, including a perfect five-for-five mark on attempts of 50-or-more yards.
Anderson helped guide McPherson to PFWA All-Rookie honors in 2021. McPherson led the NFL during the regular season in field goals of 50-or-more yards (nine) and seventh in made extra points (46). In four postseason games, he made all 14 field goal attempts and all six extra point attempts, the most made attempts without a miss in a single postseason in NFL history. Additionally, Anderson helped P Kevin Huber register 22 punts inside the 20-yard line.
Prior to his NFL coaching career, Anderson played nine NFL seasons as a safety with the Minnesota Vikings (2009), Philadelphia Eagles (2010-13), Indianapolis Colts (2014-15) and Buffalo Bills (2016-17). Throughout his eight-year career, he registered 48 tackles, four passes defensed, two forced fumbles, one interception and one fumble recovery and added 58 tackles on special teams.
Anderson played collegiately at the University of Montana for four seasons (2005-08) where he totaled 313 tackles, 25 passes defensed, 14.5 tackles for loss, eight interceptions, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 1.0 sack. He earned First-Team All-Big Sky (2006-08) and First-Team All-American (2008) honors during his collegiate career. He received his degree in business information systems and earned a teaching certificate in secondary education.
After his NFL career, Anderson spent one season (2019) as a volunteer coach at his alma mater, Butte (MT) High School. Anderson and his wife, Keelie, founded the Colt Anderson Dream Big Foundation, a non-profit focused on implementing "programs and experiences that will involve our youth, getting them excited about investing in their future." He and his wife have four sons: Cage, Krew, Coye and Kace.
