Kris Kocurek (KO-SIR-ick) is in his eighth season as the 49ers defensive line coach. He joined San Francisco after spending the 2018 season as the defensive line coach with the Miami Dolphins.
Kocurek led a defensive line unit in 2025 that helped the 49ers defense post the 11th-ranked rushing defense (107.8 rushing yards per game) and the 13th-ranked scoring defense (21.8 points per game). Under his guidance, DL Bryce Huff and DL Clelin Ferrell each registered a team-high 4.0 sacks. Kocurek also oversaw the development of three rookie contributors in DL Alfred Collins, DL C.J. West and DL Mykel Williams. Collins finished the season with 17 tackles, 1.0 sack, two passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. His two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries were both tied for the most among rookies in the NFL. In 14 appearances, West registered 21 tackles and 1.0 sack, while Williams started in nine games and registered 20 tackles, 1.0 sack and one fumble recovery.
In 2024, Kocurek assisted a 49ers defense that finished with the fifth-ranked passing defense (192.8) and the eighthranked total defense (317.4) in the NFL. He again coached DL Nick Bosa, who led the team with 9.0 sacks and finished the season with 52 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery and earned the fifth Pro Bowl selection of his career. Kocurek also helped DL Leonard Floyd register 8.5 sacks on the season and saw DL Kevin Givens register a career-high 3.5 sacks.
The 2023 San Francisco 49ers defense finished in the top10 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). San Francisco's defensive line was anchored by Bosa (10.5 sacks), DL Javon Hargrave (7.0 sacks) and Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee DL Arik Armstead (5.0 sacks), with Bosa and Hargrave each selected to the Pro Bowl Games.
In 2022, the 49ers defense ranked first overall in the NFL in total yards per game (300.6) and points allowed per game (16.3). The team also finished second with 77.7 rushing yards allowed per game. San Francisco's defense held its opponents to 277 points on the season, the fewest in the NFL and the lowest surrendered by a 49ers team since 2013. Kocurek coached Bosa, who was named Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year after leading the NFL with a career-high 18.5 sacks.
Kocurek 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. Bosa finished the season leading the team with a career-high 15.5 sacks. His sack total ranked fourth in the NFL among all players as he was selected to the Pro Bowl. Kocurek also worked closely with DL Arden Key, who registered a career-high 6.5 sacks on the year.
Kocurek 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. Rookie Javon Kinlaw registered 33 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one interception (which was returned for a touchdown) and four passes defensed. Armstead tallied 49 tackles, 3.5 sacks and a career-high three passes defensed, while DL Kerry Hyder Jr. set career highs in tackles (49) and sacks (8.5).
In 2019, Kocurek helped the 49ers defense rank 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). San Francisco also ranked tied for fifth in the NFL in sacks (48.0), the most by the team in a single season since 1998 (51.0). With DL Armstead (10.0), Bosa (9.0), DeForest Buckner (7.5) and Dee Ford (6.5), the 49ers were the only team in the NFL to have four-or-more players with 6.5-or-more sacks in 2019. Bosa, who played in all 16 games (14 starts) and registered 47 tackles, 9.0 sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and two passes defensed, was named Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press and the PFWA, and Rookie of the Year by Sporting News, PFWA and Pepsi. He was also named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team and was named a starter in the Pro Bowl.
