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San Francisco 49ers News & Rumors

49ers Interview Robert Saleh, Deshea Townsend For DC Job

January 9th, 2025 at 3:51pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The 49ers completed interviews with Robert Saleh and Deshea Townsend for their vacant defensive coordinator position, per a team announcement and CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.

Saleh was fired as the Jets head coach in October and previously served as the 49ers defensive coordinator for four seasons. He arrived in 2017 with Kyle Shanahan and inherited a defense that ranked 32nd in yards allowed. Saleh turned the 49ers defense into a top-10 unit by the time he left for New York after the 2020 season. His tenure with the Jets was plagued by poor quarterback play and interference from ownership, though Saleh maintained his standard of defensive excellence until his firing.

The 45-year-old is considered the favorite to land the 49ers’ DC job, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler, in no small part due to his familiarity with the team’s roster and scheme. Saleh is also planning to interview with the Jaguars for their head coaching position, so he may hold off on accepting the job in San Francisco before the Jaguars have made their decision.

Jeff Ulbrich, who was Saleh’s defensive coordinator in New York and finished this season as interim head coach, could also be a candidate for the DC job in San Francisco if he is not retained by the Jets, Fowler adds. Ulbrich spent his entire 10-year playing career with the 49ers and was recruited by his former team last offseason, though the Jets prevented him from interviewing. The defense led by Saleh and Ulbrich in New York was based on Saleh’s system in San Francisco, so Ulbrich should still have plenty of schematic familiarity.

Townsend is a former 13-year NFL cornerback who has been a defensive backs coach for seven NFL teams, as well as Mississippi State University. He is currently the Lions’ passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach and has played a crucial role in keeping their defense afloat despite a myriad of injuries. Townsend could also be a candidate for the Lions’ DC job if Aaron Glenn takes a head coaching job elsewhere.

49ers Retaining WR Deebo Samuel; Plan To Release DT Javon Hargrave

January 8th, 2025 at 10:59pm CST by Ely Allen

In recent months, the 49ers have made adjustments to the contracts for both wide receiver Deebo Samuel and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. Both contracts have notable potential outs following the 2024 NFL season, and it appears that San Francisco intends to act on one of those outs. According to general manager John Lynch, the 49ers plan to retain Samuel for the final year of his contract but will release Hargrave with a post-June 1 designation once the new league year starts in March.

Samuel’s recent contract reconstruction resulted in a situation in which he would account for $31.55MM of dead money should he be cut or traded before June 1. A post-June 1 designation would reduce that dead money hit to $10.75MM and result in cap savings in 2025 of $5.21MM. If the team had not utilized the post-June 1 designation on Hargrave, his release would’ve resulted in $24.86MM of dead money, but with the designation, that number dips down to $7.38MM, resulting in $2.85MM of cap savings.

Samuel, who is turning 29 in a week, just concluded a disappointing, injury-plagued season. It continued a trend of what seems to be alternating years of health and production versus years of injuries and a lack of top-end production. Following the conclusion of his 2024 campaign, Samuel claimed he had “no questions at all” about his future in San Francisco.

Hargrave, 31, just finished an injury-plagued season himself, the first such season of his nine-year career. Following two Pro Bowl campaigns in the last three years, Hargrave only made an appearance in three games in 2024. Hargrave’s recent restructuring facilitated a smooth effecting of the potential out, knowing the strain his $47.86MM cap hit was set to put on the organization in 2026.

Lynch and the Niners made it sound as if they hope to potentially compete in Hargrave’s free agency, but Wagoner claims the reunion is an unlikely one unless Hargrave agrees to a significantly reduced contract. Look for the veteran defender to shop his talents around a bit before potentially committing to return with a pay cut.

49ers’ John Lynch, Kyle Shanahan Endorse Long-Term Brock Purdy Extension

January 8th, 2025 at 10:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 49ers’ coaching staff is the center of the team’s attention right now, but the coming offseason will include a number of major roster-building decisions. The most significant of those, of course, will be a Brock Purdy extension.

San Francisco’s decision-makers are well aware of the fact this offseason represents the former Mr. Irrelevant’s first point at which he could sign a long-term deal. A massive raise will be in store compared to his rookie pact, although it remains to be seen how high the 49ers will be willing to go with respect to average annual value. Purdy himself hopes to get through the negotiating process in short order, and the team made it clear on Wednesday a deal keeping him in the Bay Area for the foreseeable future is a mutual goal.

“What we know about Brock is he’s our guy,” general manager John Lynch said (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner). Purdy took over starting duties midway through his rookie season, and his level of play helped inform the departures of Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance. The Iowa State product’s success was key in San Francisco’s latest Super Bowl appearance, and going one step further will be the target for Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan moving forward. In spite of Purdy’s regression in 2024 – matched by that of the team as a whole – no quarterback competition is on tap with the final year of his rookie contract looming.

“I plan on being with Brock here the whole time I’m here,” Shanahan said (via Wagoner). “He’s a guy I’ve got a lot of confidence in just as a human, but it starts with what he’s done on the field these last two and a half years. We’re capable of winning the Super Bowl with him. He just almost did and I know he’s capable of getting the Niners a Super Bowl in the future.”

Coming off a 6-11 season, the 49ers will look for new faces at a number of positions. That is especially the case considering some of the pending free agents which are on track to depart given the cap commitments a new Purdy deal will require. The top of the quarterback market reached $60MM just before the start of the season, and eight other passers are currently on a deal averaging at least $51MM per year. Even if Purdy’s next pact checks in at a relative discount, the 49ers’ cap structure will undergo major changes moving forward.

Given the mutual interest which exists between team and player to work out an agreement, it will be interesting to see how quickly progress is made at the negotiating table. The 49ers have a history of lengthy contract talks with key players, but such a scenario may be avoided in Purdy’s case.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/8/25

January 8th, 2025 at 7:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

Wednesday’s practice squad moves around the league:

Buffalo Bills

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

  • Signed: T Max Pircher

Gotsis will provide veteran D-line depth for the Bucs in advance of the playoffs. The 32-year-old has 126 games and 54 starts to his name, including five appearances with the Colts earlier this year. It will be interesting to see if Gotsis makes his way onto Tampa Bay’s roster in time for the team’s wild-card round either through promotion or as a gameday elevation.

49ers Seeking New OC; Shanahan Still Calling Plays

January 8th, 2025 at 3:15pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

JANUARY 10: NFL rules will not permit the 49ers to promote passing game specialist Klint Kubiak to offensive coordinator, per Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. Since the position was previously closed, San Francisco will have to conduct an open search process. Shanahan previously said that Kubiak has been the 49ers’ de facto OC for the last two years, but that will not allow the team to skirt league rules regarding hire processes.

Kubiak will certainly be the team’s top candidate for the job, but they will have to interview outside candidates in the coming weeks. That will have to include at least two minority candidates in accordance with the NFL’s Rooney Rule.

JANUARY 8: The 49ers are planning to promote Klay Kubiak to offensive coordinator, per NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco, though head coach Kyle Shanahan said that he will retain play-calling duties.

Kubiak, who was the offensive passing game specialist in 2024, will become the 49ers’ first coach since Mike McDaniel to hold the title.

There could be several reasons for Kubiak’s promotion. The title bump, which likely comes with a pay increase, may be an attempt to keep Kubiak from considering offensive coordinator jobs with other teams. Despite a myriad of injuries, the 49ers still finished with the fourth-most passing yards in the league this year, despite ranking 22nd in total passing attempts.

The 49ers could be trying to help their young coach’s career. A year of OC experience could increase Kubiak’s chances of drawing head coaching interest in next year’s hiring cycle. McDaniel was San Francisco’s offensive coordinator during the 2021 season before he was hired as the head coach in Miami.

Shanahan could also want to spend more time with the defense after falling to 29th in points allowed this season after three straight finishes in the top 10. He mentioned Brandon Staley – currently the 49ers’ assistant head coach – as an option to replace defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen, per the Bay Area News Group’s Cam Inman. Sorensen will not have a second year as DC, but could return to the team as special teams coordinator.

Since the 49ers missed the playoffs for the first time since 2020, they will have more time to interview coaching candidates in the coming weeks.

Nick Sorensen Won’t Return As 49ers Defensive Coordinator

January 7th, 2025 at 8:47pm CST by Ben Levine

The 49ers will be seeking their fourth defensive coordinator in four years. Nick Sorensen won’t return as the 49ers defensive coordinator in 2025, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.

However, Sorensen’s stint in San Francisco may not be over. Maiocco adds that the 49ers are hoping they can keep the coach on Kyle Shanahan’s staff for next season. One option could be special teams coordinator, as Matt Barrows of The Athletic notes. The 49ers fired ST coordinator Brian Schneider the other day, and Sorensen served in that role during his time with the Jaguars.

After ranking third in points allowed in 2023, the 49ers dropped to 29th during Sorenson’s first season at the helm. The defense also struggled to generate turnovers, with Cam Inman of the Mercury News noting that the team had zero interceptions over their final seven games and only one fumble recovery over their final 11 games.

There was hope that Sorenson would help guide the 49ers to a new level after the team fired Steve Wilks last offseason. The former NFL journeyman moved quickly through the coaching ranks in San Francisco, where he worked his way up from a defensive assistant to defensive pass game specialist to defensive coordinator in three seasons. In addition to his one-year stint as Jaguars ST coordinator, Sorenson also had experience coaching defense with the Seahawks, where he served as the team’s secondary coach during the final seasons of the Legion of Boom era.

While the 49ers dealt with a long list of injuries, the team clearly wasn’t willing to tolerate the clear regression from the defense in 2024. Now, the organization will be seeking their fourth defensive coordinator in four seasons. Prior to Wilks one-year stint as defensive coordinator, DeMeco Ryans spent two years in the role before becoming head coach of the Texans.

Ryans’ predecessor, Robert Saleh, could be a candidate to take over for Sorenson, as Inman notes. Saleh spent four years as San Francisco’s defensive coach before leaving to become the Jets head coach in 2021. He was canned by the Jets earlier this season before catching on as a consultant in Green Bay, and he’s already emerged as a candidate for the Jaguars head coaching vacancy. It’s more likely that Saleh’s return to coaching will require a stop as coordinator, and a familiar spot in San Francisco could be his softest-possible landing.

Inman also points to Jeff Ulbrich and Gus Bradley as potential candidates for the 49ers new DC opening. Ulbrich most recently served as Saleh’s interim replacement in New York, and that was preceded by a three-plus-year stint as the Jets DC. The veteran coach crossed paths with Shanahan in Atlanta, and he spent his entire 10-year playing career in San Francisco.

Bradley and Shanahan have never worked alongside each other, but the veteran coach brings plenty of experience. Bradley most recently served as the Colts defensive coordinator, a role he held for three seasons before getting dismissed yesterday. Bradley also held DC roles with the Raiders, Chargers, and Seahawks, and he had a four-year stint as head coach with the Jaguars.

NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/7/25

January 7th, 2025 at 8:39pm CST by Ben Levine

Many teams have started signing players to reserve/futures contracts, allowing the organization to retain (routinely) young, practice squad players through the offseason. Here are the latest reserve/futures contracts:

Arizona Cardinals

  • DE Anthony Goodlow, OL Sincere Haynesworth, RB Zonovan Knight, NT P.J. Mustipher

Atlanta Falcons

  • WR Makai Polk

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

  • TE Jordan Murray

Cincinnati Bengals

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

  • DL Tyler Manoa

Miami Dolphins

San Francisco 49ers

49ers Fire ST Coordinator Brian Schneider

January 7th, 2025 at 8:31am CST by Adam La Rose

Coordinator firings continue around the NFL. The 49ers are moving on from special teams coordinator Brian Schneider, ESPN’s Nick Wagoner reports.

Schneider has served as a special teams coordinator on a number of occasions at both the college and NFL levels. His longest stretch in the pro game came with the Seahawks from 2010-20. That spell included considerable success in the third phase, and he quickly landed his next opportunity during the 2021 hiring cycle with the Jaguars.

Schneider wound up stepping away from the Jacksonville posting for personal reasons, but again he did not need to wait long to find his next opportunity. The 53-year-old joined Kyle Shanahan‘s 49ers staff in 2022, leading the 49ers’ special teams for each of the past three seasons. Struggles in that area have now led to a change.

San Francisco’s special teams were a sore spot in 2024, a year in which few things in any phase went according to plan. Penalties and turnovers in the coverage and return game were a common theme for the campaign, as were the inconsistencies of second-year kicker Jake Moody. The former third-rounder had a strong rookie campaign, but this season he took a step back by connecting on only 24 of 34 field goal attempts. A rebound in 2025 will be a key goal for Moody in particular and several of San Francisco’s ST contributors in general.

It remains to be seen if Shanahan is planning any other changes on his staff. Ahead of the season finale, he offered a vote of confidence for first-year defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen, suggesting continuity will be in place on that side of the ball next year. With respect to special teams, however, changes will be coming this offseason.

NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/6/25

January 6th, 2025 at 7:29pm CST by Ben Levine

With the regular season having come to an end, many teams have started signing players to reserve/futures contracts. This allows organization to retain (routinely) young, practice squad players. Here are the latest reserve/futures contracts:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

New York Giants

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Brock Purdy Targeting Early-Offseason Extension

January 6th, 2025 at 3:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

The 49ers have taken their time with most of their big-ticket extensions under John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan. Brandon Aiyuk and Nick Bosa signed just before the past two seasons, respectively, while the Deebo Samuel and George Kittle deals occurred during training camp. Brock Purdy is targeting a deal much earlier.

Not long after a report surfaced pointing to the 49ers not being keen on paying Purdy a top-market rate, the three-year veteran quarterback is targeting a deal that ends this matter before the team’s offseason program begins in April. Purdy made it clear he will seek a 49ers extension. All signs point to the franchise being ready to explore a deal for the seventh-round steal.

[RELATED: Assessing Purdy’s Extension Candidacy]

“I want to obviously get it done,” Purdy said, via ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner. “If that’s an opportunity to be able to get that done quick, that’d be great. Just so we can get back for phase one.”

While that has not been San Francisco’s M.O., they have hammered out a notable QB contract early in an offseason during the Shanahan-Lynch regime. The 49ers gave Jimmy Garoppolo a then-record contract in February 2018. Of course, the primary difference between a Garoppolo payday and a Purdy pact centers around team control. The 49ers paid Garoppolo weeks before he was to hit free agency; Purdy’s rookie deal runs through the 2025 season. That gives the 49ers time, and Purdy’s hopes may not align with the organization’s.

It stands to reason the 49ers will not deviate from their plans to pay Purdy, but they are under no obligation to do it early. This coming offseason, thanks largely to the 2021 and ’22 QB classes not producing many extension candidates, may also not see the market change. Josh Allen could have a say, even though the Bills have him locked down for multiple years, but the 2023 and ’24 offseasons settled a lot of business on the QB market. This would allow the 49ers to wait a bit, and Purdy’s price point will matter significantly as well.

Purdy, 25, has accomplished more than Jordan Love and Trevor Lawrence, who inked $55MM-per-year deals this past summer. It would stand to reason those accords would be the former Mr. Irrelevant’s floor. Even if the 49ers are understandably not comfortable going into the $60MM-AAV (with a player-friendly structure) neighborhood Dak Prescott populates by himself, it will then be on the team to determine whether that Lawrence-Love territory would work. Otherwise, the team would have another year of rookie-deal control and a $40MM-plus franchise tag at its disposal.

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