Johnny Holland is in his ninth season with the 49ers and sixth as the team's linebackers coach. He previously served as the team's linebackers coach in 2017. Holland also worked as the 49ers run game specialist/outside linebackers coach from 2018-20.
In 2024, the 49ers defense finished with the fifth-ranked passing defense (192.8) and the eighth-ranked total defense (317.4) in the NFL. Holland guided LB Fred Warner to his fourth career Associated Press First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections after he led the team in tackles (131) and forced fumbles (four), while also registering 1.0 sack, seven passes defensed and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Warner became one of three players in the NFL to register 130-or-more tackles in each of the previous four seasons (2021-24) and became the second linebacker in franchise history to register 10.0-or-more sacks and 10-or-more interceptions in a career (LB Keena Turner).
The 2023 San Francisco 49ers defense finished in the top-10 in the NFL in total defense (303.9) and rushing defense (89.7), tied for first in interceptions (22) and tied for the seventh-most sacks (48). Holland once again coached Warner to Associated Press First-Team All-Pro honors and a selection to the Pro Bowl Games after leading the linebacker unit with a team-high 132 tackles, 11 passes defensed, four interceptions, four forced fumbles and 2.5 sacks. LB Dre Greenlaw added 120 tackles, 1.5 sacks and four passes defensed.
In 2022, the 49ers defense ranked first overall in the NFL, allowing 300.6 total yards per game and first with 16.3 points allowed per game. San Francisco's defense also ranked tied for first with 20 interceptions and second with 77.7 rushing yards allowed per game. Holland saw Warner receive his second Pro Bowl selection and an Associated Press First-Team All-Pro nod after registering 130 tackles, 2.0 sacks, one forced fumble, one interception and a career-high 10 passes defensed. Greenlaw also set career-highs in starts (15), tackles (127) and passes defense (10).
Holland and the 49ers defense ranked third in the NFL in 2021, allowing 310.0 total yards per game. San Francisco also was sixth in the NFL, surrendering 206.5 passing yards per game. The Niners forced 22 fumbles on defense in 2021, the most in the NFL and the most in a single season by the 49ers since 1994.
Holland helped the 49ers defense rank fifth in the NFL in total yards allowed per game (359.0) and seventh in rush defense (118.9) in 2020. Warner earned Associated Press First-Team All-Pro honors and the first Pro Bowl selection of his career. Greenlaw ranked second on the team with 83 tackles, while adding 1.0 sack and one pass defensed. LB Azeez Al-Shaair played in all 16 games (five starts) and set career-highs in tackles (34), sacks (1.0), interceptions (one), forced fumbles (one) and passed defensed (two).
In 2019, Holland helped guide San Francisco's defense which ranked second in the NFL in total yards allowed per game (281.8), the fewest total yards allowed per game by the team since 1997 (250.8). As a rookie, Greenlaw played in all 16 games (10 starts) and tallied 87 tackles, 1.0 sack, one interception and two passes defensed as he was named to the PFWA All-Rookie team. In his first season with the 49ers, LB Kwon Alexander started all eight games in which he appeared and registered 34 tackles, 0.5 sack, one interception, one forced fumble and two passes defensed.
In 2018, Holland helped the 49ers run defense rank seventh in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per play (4.09). The defense also improved from tied for 21st in the NFL in 2017 to 14th in rushing yards allowed per game (113.4). The 113.4 rushing yards allowed per game were the fewest allowed by the team since 2014 (100.8). Under Holland's tutelage, LB Mark Nzeocha set career highs in tackles (17), sacks (1.0), forced fumbles (one) and passes defensed (one).
Holland worked with the 49ers linebackers in 2017, passing on wisdom from his seven-year playing career and almost two decades of coaching experience. Rookie LB Reuben Foster finished second on the team with 72 tackles and LB Brock Coyle played in all 16 games, setting career highs in starts (10), tackles (62), forced fumbles (one) and passes defensed (one), while also adding 0.5 sack.
In 2016, Holland was the inside linebackers coach with the Cleveland Browns. He worked with a linebacking corps that was led by LBs Christian Kirksey and Demario Davis. In his first season as a full-time starter, Kirksey registered a career-high 143 tackles, the fifth-most in the NFL according to Gamebook Statistics. After signing with the Browns as a free agent, Davis finished second on the team with 99 tackles.
Holland went to Cleveland following three seasons (2013-15) in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He served as the linebackers coach with the B.C. Lions from 2014-15 and the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2013, helping guide the Roughriders to a Grey Cup win in his lone season with the team.
Before his time in the CFL, Holland was linebackers coach with the Oakland Raiders (2012) after one season (2011) with the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League (UFL), helping the team win the league championship.
Holland served as linebackers coach for five seasons (2006-10) with the Houston Texans. Under Holland's tutelage, LB DeMeco Ryans (2006) and LB Brian Cushing (2009) each earned Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. In 2009, Cushing registered 133 tackles, according to Gamebook Statistics, four sacks and four interceptions as the Texans reached nine wins, the highest total in franchise history at the time. In 2006, Ryan finished with 156 tackles, according to Gamebook Statistics, the most by an NFL rookie in 20 years.
Prior to working in Houston, Holland spent three seasons with the Detroit Lions. He began with Detroit as a defensive assistant from 2003-04 before moving to linebackers coach in 2005. He also spent three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks as the team's assistant special teams/assistant strength and conditioning coach (2000) and linebackers coach (2001-02).
Holland began coaching in the NFL as a defensive quality control coach with the Green Bay Packers from 1995-97. In 1998, he coached the Packers special teams and later spent one season (1999) as the team's linebackers coach. He was part of Green Bay's staff that won back-to-back NFC Championships, including a victory in Super Bowl XXXI.
Originally a second-round (41st overall) draft pick by the Packers in the 1987 NFL Draft, Holland played seven seasons (1987-93) with the Packers where he registered 100-or-more tackles in each of his final six seasons. In 1992, he led Green Bay with 145 tackles and helped the team to its first playoff victory in 11 years. Holland was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 2001.
A native of Hempstead, TX, Holland was a four-year letterman (1983-86) at Texas A&M University where he led the Aggies in tackles in each of his final three seasons. He was enshrined in the Texas A&M Hall of Fame in 1993 as well as the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame in 2000.
Holland and his wife, Faith, have two children: son, Jordan, and daughter, Joli.
