San Francisco 49ers Kyle Shanahan, left, stands on the sideline through the first half of an NFL soccer sport towards the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Seattle. (AP Photograph/John Froschauer)
Kyle Shanahan’s teaching workers isn’t simply altering, it’s doing so at main spots, and that is wanting like an annual prevalence.
Who will he rent subsequent? Interviews are underway, and the general candidate pool certainly will not be as acquainted to him because the trusted confidants who acquired poached the previous 13 months.
Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel was employed Sunday because the Miami Dolphins coach, not lengthy after the Chicago Bears introduced Richard Hightower as their new particular groups coordinator, a job Hightower had held since 2017 with the 49ers.
Shanahan not solely has these workers modifications to handle but in addition the departure final week of Jon Embree, who oversaw the tight ends and held the title of assistant head coach.
These are three key coaches gone, a yr after Shanahan noticed his workers poached by way of the New York Jets’ hiring of Robert Saleh as their coach and Mike LaFleur as offensive coordinator.
New coaches #49ers will face subsequent season:
At house:#Dolphins Mike McDaniel#Saints Dennis Allen
Away:#Raiders Josh McDaniels#Broncos Nathaniel Hackett#Bears Matt EberflusDifferent reported hirings:
Vikings Kevin O’Connell
Texans Lovie Smith
Giamts Brian Daboll
Jags Doug Pederson— Cam Inman (@CamInman) February 8, 2022
DeMeco Ryans, promoted a yr in the past from linebackers coach to interchange Saleh, is anticipated to return for a second yr as defensive coordinator. He rebuffed a follow-up interview final week for the Minnesota Vikings’ teaching emptiness that's earmarked for Kevin O’Connell, the Los Angeles Rams’ offensive coordinator.
Shedding McDaniel shakes up the offense in a giant approach. He’d been with Shanahan since 2011, and whereas they crafted intelligent sport plans, McDaniel additionally labored wonders with hands-on teaching, relaying essential particulars, together with to huge receivers even when he held the title of run-game coordinator previous to this previous yr’s promotion.
Including Anthony Lynn to the workers, as reported final week, is a lift. He’ll be the assistant head coach, but it surely doesn’t essentially imply he'll develop into offensive coordinator. The 49ers haven't formally introduced his hiring or another teaching modifications, and no different departures are identified.
Shanahan might cut up that OC title as he’d carried out in earlier seasons with McDaniel and LaFleur, maybe making Lynn the run-game coordinator and adjusting Bobby Slowik’s title from pass-game specialist to pass-game coordinator.
One other in-house title to observe is Wealthy Scangarello, who returned a yr in the past as quarterbacks coach, a place he held with the 49ers from 2017-18 earlier than becoming a member of the 2019 Denver Broncos (offensive coordinator) and 2020 Philadelphia Eagles (senior offensive assistant).
Lynn spent this previous season with the Detroit Lions, and it was the primary time he was an offensive coordinator in 20 seasons as a NFL coach. He beforehand was the Chargers’ head coach for 4 seasons. He capped his enjoying profession as a working again underneath Mike Shanahan with the Denver Broncos (1997-99) after two seasons as a 49ers’ backup.
Offensive line assistants Butch Barry and Zach Yenser are additionally reportedly on the transfer, with Barry changing into the Denver Broncos’ offensive line coach and Yenser taking that function on the College of Kentucky. Chris Foerster took over because the 49ers’ offensive line coach final season after John Benton joined Saleh’s Jets workers.
As for particular groups coordinator, Hightower’s job safety waned as his items struggled final season, up till their heroics in a divisional-playoff comeback at Inexperienced Bay. Matthew Harper and August Mangin labored underneath Hightower this previous season.
One potential candidate to interchange Hightower is now off the market: Wealthy Bisaccia, the previous Raiders’ interim coach and reportedly the Packers’ subsequent particular groups coordinator. Joe Decide, the previous New York Giants coach and New England Patriots particular groups coordinator, reportedly has curiosity from the Raiders for his or her particular groups.
Kicker Robbie Gould’s youthful brother, Chris, is reportedly accessible after spending the previous 5 seasons because the Denver Broncos’ particular groups assistant.
Maybe the 49ers ought to bid for the Indianapolis Colts’ particular groups coordinator: Bubba Ventrone, who wrapped up his enjoying profession with the 49ers in 2013-14. Jeff Rodgers, the Arizona Cardinals’ particular groups coordinator and assistant head coach, started his profession with the 49ers from 2003-07.
Defensively, Ryans seems on a quick observe to a head-coaching function, and Shanahan has promoted that risk for over a yr. A possible successor for that function, if Ryans does go away in a yr, is James Bettcher, the 49ers’ senior defensive assistant and run-game specialist.