49ers’ Chris Kiffin joining Joe Woods as Browns defensive line coach

Chris Kiffin

Chris Kiffin coached the dynamic San Francisco defensive front before joining the Browns for the 2020 season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Myles Garrett and the rest of the Browns’ defensive line will be coached this season by an assistant who helped tutor one of 2019′s most dominant fronts in Chris Kiffin.

Kiffin, the 49ers’ pass-rush specialist the past two seasons, is joining his fellow former 49ers assistant and new Browns defensive coordinator Joe Woods as Browns defensive line coach, a league source confirmed. Alex Marvel of SiriusXMNFL radio first reported it.

Kiffin helped lead a formidable 49ers defensive front that tied for fifth in the NFL with the Vikings with 48 sacks, including 10 by Arik Armstead and nine by Nick Bosa, the No. 2 overall pick in 2019 out of Ohio State. The attack-minded defense, with Woods as defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator, helped the 49ers reach the Super Bowl, where they lost 31-20 to the Chiefs.

Along the way, the sacked Kirk Cousins six times in the divisional round and Aaron Rodgers three times in the NFC Championship Game.

Kiffin takes over a defensive line that features Garrett, who had 10 sacks in 10 games last season before being suspended for striking Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph with the QB’s own helmet. The Browns expect Garrett to be re-instated for the start of the 2020 season. The Browns also have defensive end Olivier Vernon coming off a knee injury that cost him most of 2019′s second half, and tackles Sheldon Richardson and Larry Ogunjobi.

The Browns previously hired Jeff Howard as defensive backs coach, and still have several defensive openings to fill.

Kiffin joined the 49ers in 2018 after serving as co-defensive coordinator at Florida Atlantic University under his brother, Lane Kiffin, the year before.

In 2018, the 49ers defense registered 37 sacks, the most by the team in a single-season since 2013. Under Kiffin’s guidance, DL DeForest Buckner was selected to his first Pro Bowl after registering a career-high 12.0 sacks, the most by a 49er since 2012.

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