Nick Sorensen joined Brian Schottenheimer's staff in 2025 as the Cowboys special teams coordinator, a role he previously held while working with Schottenheimer in Jacksonville in 2021.
Sorensen brings 12 years of NFL coaching experience following a 10-year playing career in the league. He spent the last three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and recently held the defensive coordinator title in the 2024 season.
In 2024 Sorensen's unit finished fifth in pass defense (192.8 passing yards allowed-per-game), despite the defense being ravaged with injuries to key players such as Dre Greenlaw, Javon Hargrave and Talanoa Hufanga, all former Pro Bowlers. Sorensen oversaw linebacker Fred Warner (fourth selection) and Nick Bosa (fifth) named to the Pro Bowl.
Sorensen spent the 2023 season as the 49ers defensive passing game specialist/nickels coach, a year where San Francisco's secondary tied for first in the NFL with 22 interceptions. Overall, San Francisco finished in the top-10 in the league in total defense (303.9) and rushing defense (89.7). While with Sorensen, Charvarious Ward led the secondary with 72 tackles and led the NFL with 23 pass breakups to go along with a team-high five interceptions, earning Associated Press second-team All-Pro honors.
In 2022 as a defensive assistant, the 49ers led the NFL in total defense (300.6) and scoring defense (16.3). San Francisco's defense also tied for first with
20 interceptions and ranked second with 77.7 rushing yards allowed-per-game.
Prior to San Francisco, Sorensen spent the 2021 season coordinating the special teams units for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars kickoff return unit averaged 22.2 yards-per-return with one return for a touchdown, one-of-eight teams to register a kickoff return touchdown in 2021. Under Sorensen, Jaguars punter Logan Cooke finished third in net punting average (43.6) and eighth in gross punting (47.3).
Before Jacksonville, Sorensen spent eight years with the Seattle Seahawks under Pete Carroll. Soresen started as a special teams assistant (2013-16) before transitioning to the defensive side of the ball as secondary coach (2017-19) and secondary/nickel specialist (2020).
In 2020 Seattle cornerback Shaquill Griffin earned his first career Pro Bowl selection after leading the team with 12 pass breakups to go along with three interceptions. The 2019 Seahawks tied for fifth in the NFL with 16 interceptions on the season, and in 2017, Seattle held its opponents to an average of 209.2 passing yards-per-game, second in the NFC and sixth in the NFL.
In 2016 while working with both special teams and defensive backs, Sorensen helped Tyler Lockett garner AP second-team All-Pro honors as a kick returner. Sorensen also helped Steven Hauschka become the franchise leader in field goals made (175) and the third-highest field goal percentage in NFL history (87.2%). Lockett was also named first-team All-Pro in 2015 as a rookie return specialist. Lockett became the second player in NFL history (Gale Sayers) to return a punt and kickoff for touchdowns and record five receiving touchdowns in a season.
During Seattle's Super Bowl XLVIII title run in 2013, the Seahawks special teams was led by its reliable kicking game. Hauschka converted on 33-of-35 field goal attempts for a single-season franchise record 94.3 made field goal percentage. His 143 kicking points also set a Seahawks record. Under Sorensen, Seattle's punt coverage unit allowed only 25 yards through the first 15 games. In Super Bowl XLVIII, Percy Harvin returned the second half opening kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown in the win over Denver.
Sorensen began his coaching career in 2012 as a defensive quality control coach at Youngstown State after playing safety and serving as a special teams ace in the NFL for 10 years. As a member of the St. Louis Rams in 2001, he played against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI.
A native of Winter Haven, Fla., Sorensen attended Virginia Tech and played for the Hokies from 1997-2000. He started his collegiate career at quarterback and later transitioned to safety and linebacker during his junior and senior seasons. He was a part of the Virginia Tech team that reached the National Championship game in 1999 against Florida State.
Sorensen and his wife, Danielle, have two sons, Stone and Nash.
