49ers To Interview Kyle Shanahan Later This Week
- The Rams, Bills, and Chargers are requesting permission to speak with Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). We learned earlier today that the 49ers have also expressed interest in Joseph.
- The Rams, Jaguars, Broncos, and 49ers will all interview Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan between Friday and Saturday, reports Rapoport (via Twitter).
[SOURCE LINK]
49ers Ask To Interview Chiefs’ Chris Ballard
7:55pm: According to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter), Ballard will not be taking the interview with the 49ers. The executive believes he’s in an excellent situation in Kansas City and has a great relationship with general manager John Dorsey.
8:21am: The 49ers’ general manager search is underway and it sounds like Chris Ballard is a priority candidate. The Niners have reached out to the Chiefs for permission to interview the exec, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (on Twitter). 
It seems likely that the Chiefs will grant permission for the interview since Ballard has been a GM candidate for some time and was allowed to interview for the Titans job last offseason. Ultimately, that job went to Jon Robinson, partially because Ballard’s assessment of coach Mike Mularkey didn’t align with that of team ownership.
Ballard, who just completed his third season with Kansas City, has been an NFL personnel man for 16 years. This offseason, he could interview for multiple vacancies and this could be the year that he breaks out from John Dorsey‘s shadow.
49ers To Interview Packers’ Wolf, Gutekunst
After having fired Trent Baalke yesterday, the 49ers have already started their search for a new general manager. According to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (via Twitter), Packers executive Eliot Wolf will interview for the gig later this week. Eliot is the son of Ron Wolf, who won three Super Bowl titles as the general manager of the Raiders and Packers. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that the 49ers will also be interviewing Packers Director of College Scouting Brian Gutekunst.
Wolf has spent the past 13 seasons with the Packers organization, and he was promoted to the director of football operations prior to this season. According to the team’s website, Wolf’s “primary duties include coordinating the pro and college football departments as well as handling both college and pro player evaluation through film study, college visits, pro days, college all-star games and the NFL Scouting Combine. During the season, he is responsible for overseeing advance scouting of upcoming Packers opponents, evaluating potential free-agent signees and recommending player tryouts.”
As NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport recently pointed out, Wolf was expected to take over as Packers general manager whenever Ted Thompson decided to retire. Interviewing for the 49ers gig certainly wouldn’t prevent Wolf from taking a potential Packers job. In fact, he could be using the interview with San Francisco as leverage, although that’s only my speculation. Peter Schrager of FoxSports.com notes (via Twitter) that the Packers did not give permission for Wolf to take interviews last offseason.
Gutekunst has been with the Packers organization for the past 18 years. Prior to his current role, Gutekunst served as a college scout. The executive also has experience as a coach.
The 49ers aren’t necessarily competing with other organizations for general manager interviews, as they’re currently the only NFL team with an opening. Earlier today, the team reached out to the Chiefs with the hope that they could interview executive Chris Ballard. According to Rapoport on Twitter, Ballard is not interested in taking an interview with the 49ers.
2017 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker
Several NFL teams are currently hunting for a new head coach, and amidst reports about interview requests and potential candidates, it’s easy to lose track of the latest updates in the shuffle. So we’ll use this space – which will be updated until every team has hired a new head coach – to keep track of the most recent news and rumors. It can be found on the right-hand sidebar under “PFR Features.”
Listed below are the head coaching candidates that have been linked to each of the teams with vacancies, along with their current status. If and when other teams decide to make head coaching changes, they’ll be added to this list. Here’s the current breakdown:
Updated 2-7-17 (10:22am CT)
Buffalo Bills
- Sean McDermott, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Hired
- Harold Goodwin, offensive coordinator (Cardinals): Interviewed
- Frank Reich, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Was expected to interview; no request submitted
- Kris Richard, defensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Interview requested; hired first by Broncos
- Anthony Lynn, offensive coordinator/interim head coach (Bills): Interviewed
Denver Broncos
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Hired
- Kyle Shanahan, offensive coordinator (Falcons): Interviewed 1/7; prefers Denver’s job to others
- Dave Toub, special teams coach (Chiefs): Interviewed
- Anthony Lynn, interim coach (Bills): Could be interviewed; no meeting requested as of 1/5
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Doug Marrone, interim head coach (Jaguars): Hired
- Tom Coughlin, former head coach (Giants): Interviewed
- Harold Goodwin, offensive coordinator (Cardinals): Interviewed
- Chip Kelly, former head coach (49ers): Interviewed
- Mike Smith, defensive coordinator (Buccaneers): Interviewed
- Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed
- Kyle Shanahan, offensive coordinator (Falcons): Interviewed
- Anthony Lynn, offensive coordinator/interim head coach (Bills): Expected to interview; hired first by Chargers
Los Angeles Rams
- Sean McVay, offensive coordinator (Redskins): Hired
- Teryl Austin, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed
- John Fassel, interim head coach (Rams): Interviewed
- Harold Goodwin, offensive coordinator (Cardinals): Interviewed
- Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed
- Matt Patricia, defensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed
- Sean Payton, head coach (Saints): Rams have interest in trading for him
- Kyle Shanahan, offensive coordinator (Falcons): Interview now unlikely
- Steve Wilks, assistant coach/secondary coach, (Panthers): Interviewed
- Mike Vrabel, linebackers coach (Texans): Permission granted for interview
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Was to be interviewed 1/13; hired by Broncos
- Anthony Lynn, interim head coach (Bills): Will receive second interview
- Doug Marrone, interim head coach (Jaguars): Interviewed
San Diego Chargers
- Anthony Lynn, interim head coach (Bills): Hired
- Teryl Austin, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed
- Matt Patricia, defensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed
- Mike Smith, defensive coordinator (Buccaneers): Interviewed; signed extension to stay as Bucs’ DC
- Dave Toub, special teams coach (Chiefs): Interviewed
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Was to be interviewed; hired by Broncos
- Sean McDermott, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Was set for second interview, hired as Bills’ HC
San Francisco 49ers
- Kyle Shanahan, offensive coordinator (Falcons): Hired
- Tom Cable, offensive line coach (Seahawks): Interviewed; withdrew from search
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Was to be interviewed; hired by Broncos
- Anthony Lynn, interim head coach (Bills): Interviewed
- Doug Marrone, interim coach (Jaguars): Team has interest
- Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed; withhdrew from search
- Sean McDermott, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Hired as Bills’ HC
- Sean McVay, offensive coordinator (Redskins): Interviewed
Baalke Blocked 49ers From Drafting Dak Prescott
This probably didn’t help Trent Baalke‘s case in San Francisco. Apparently, Chip Kelly and others within the organization wanted to draft Dak Prescott last spring but Baalke didn’t pull the trigger, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). Ultimately, that was one of the final straws for Baalke and he was fired after a dreadful 2-14 season.
Of course, it was the Cowboys who drafted Prescott in the fourth round and he has put together a jaw-dropping rookie campaign. Through 17 weeks of regular season action, Prescott appears to be the best QB in his class, ahead of No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff, No. 2 overall pick Carson Wentz, and first round pick Paxton Lynch. Pro Football Focus has Prescott ranked as the 12th best QB in the NFL for the 2016 season, ahead of notables like Ryan Tannehill, Alex Smith, Andy Dalton, Ben Roethlisberger, Cam Newton, and Philip Rivers. Colin Kaepernick, meanwhile, earned a poor overall grade of 61.9, placing him 27th amongst qualified QBs. After watching Prescott throw for 3,667 yards and 23 touchdowns against just four interceptions, 49ers ownership couldn’t help but wonder how different things would have been if Baalke was on board with the Mississippi St. product.
The 49ers had multiple opportunities to grab Prescott, but instead they are entering the offseason with no clear answer at the position. Blaine Gabbert and Kaepernick fizzled this year and the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft might not help their quarterback dilemma considering the dearth of quality QBs. UNC’s Mitch Trubisky is widely considered to be the best signal caller in this year’s unimpressive crop.
49ers Targeting Tom Cable, Others For HC Job
Josh McDaniels isn’t the only candidate on the 49ers’ list. The team is also looking to bring in Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable, Bills interim head coach Anthony Lynn, Jaguars interim coach Doug Marrone, and Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, according to CSNBayArea.com’s Matt Maiocco.
The Jets interviewed Cable for their head coaching vacancy before the 2015 season, but he did not receive any interviews last offseason. Cable, of course, offers head coaching experience after nearly three years at the helm in Oakland. From 2008-2010, the Raiders went 17-27 under Cable and never finished higher than third in the AFC West.
Meanwhile, the top GM candidates right now are Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio, Chiefs director of player personnel Chris Ballard, ESPN analyst Louis Riddick, Vikings assistant GM George Paton, and Seahawks co-player personnel directors Trent Kirchner and Scott Fitterer.
CEO Jed York and executive vice president of football operations Paraag Marathe are leading the search to fill both vacancies. After witnessing years of discord between former coach Jim Harbaugh and former GM Trent Baalke (and perhaps some disagreement between Baalke and recent ex-coach Chip Kelly), the 49ers may opt for a ready-made GM/coach combo like McDaniels and Caserio. McDaniels appears to be one of the hottest coaching candidates on the market this offseason and Caserio has been viewed as a rising front office star for the last couple of years.
McDaniels To Interview With Rams, Jags, 49ers
Josh McDaniels is a popular man. As the Patriots offensive coordinator gears up for the playoffs, he’ll interview for three vacancies towards the end of this week, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Rams, Jaguars, and 49ers will all speak with the highly sought after coaching candidate. 
[RELATED: Three Teams Reach Out To McDaniels]
Over the weekend, we learned that all three teams reached out McDaniels and we now have confirmation that he will meet with all three. McDaniels is reportedly likely to take a head coaching job this offseason and each of these openings have their perks. The Rams job could be particularly appealing for the Pats’ OC, provided that he has a high opinion of quarterback Jared Goff. McDaniels could instead prefer the idea of resurrecting Blake Bortles‘ career or starting fresh with a quarterback of his choosing in San Francisco.
Last week, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen wrote that McDaniels is not a likely fit for the Jaguars. Regardless, Jacksonville will meet with him this week since this could be the last chance for all interested teams to meet with McDaniels if the Patriots reach the Super Bowl.
2017 NFL Draft Order
The Browns almost blew it yesterday. In the regular season finale, the Browns took the Steelers to overtime before ultimately losing 27-24. Had they won, the Browns would have been picking at No. 2 instead of the top position. Meanwhile, the Jaguars nearly slipped to No. 5, but they held their ground in the draft order when they lost 24-20 to the Colts. Phew.
The playoffs will help determine the bottom 12 picks, but the draft order has now been set for most of the NFL. Here is the list, with ties being broken by strength of schedule:
1. Browns (1-15)
2. 49ers (2-14)
3. Bears (3-13)
4. Jaguars (3-13)
5. Titans (via the 4-12 Rams)
6. Jets (5-11)
7. Chargers (5-11)
8. Panthers (6-10)
9. Bengals (6-9-1)
10. Bills (7-9)
11. Saints (7-9)
12. Browns (via the 7-9 Eagles)
13. Cardinals (7-8-1)
T-14. Eagles (via the 8-8 Minnesota Vikings)
T-14. Colts (8-8) (Note: The Vikings and Colts have identical records and the same strength of schedule. The tie will be broke by coin flip with the winner getting pick No. 14 and the other team getting the No. 15 pick.)
16. Ravens (8-8)
17. Redskins (8-7-1)
18. Titans (9-7)
19. Buccaneers (9-7)
20. Broncos (9-7)
Three Teams Reach Out To Josh McDaniels
As the AFC’s top seed, the 14-2 Patriots will be on a bye during the first week of the playoffs, but offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels could be busy. Three teams with head coaching vacancies – the Rams, 49ers and Jaguars – have reached out to the 40-year-old, reports Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com (Twitter link). It’s unclear if McDaniels will interview with any of those teams, but the upcoming week will be his last chance for a while if the Patriots advance to the Super Bowl.
McDaniels is reportedly likely to take a head coaching job this offseason, which would mean doing so for the second time in his career. He was previously atop the Broncos from 2009-10, but they went just 11-17 on his watch despite starting 6-0. McDaniels has rebuilt his stock in his second stint as the Patriots’ O-coordinator, though, and could be on his way to securing a fifth Super Bowl ring as an assistant.
Of the clubs showing interest in the quarterback guru, San Francisco is the only one without a recent first-round pick under center. The 49ers might not have an answer at quarterback on their roster at all, depending on what happens with Colin Kaepernick, though they are armed with the second pick in the 2017 draft and a boatload of cap space.
The Rams, meanwhile, have last year’s No. 1 overall selection, Jared Goff, who struggled in six games as a rookie. Jacksonille’s Blake Bortles hasn’t lived up to his draft status (third overall, 2014), but it’s possible he’d realize his potential under McDaniels. In the event McDaniels is bearish on him, the Jags wouldn’t force him to stick with Bortles.
49ers Dismiss Trent Baalke, Chip Kelly
The 49ers have fired general manager Trent Baalke and head coach Chip Kelly, per a team announcement.
“Despite my feelings for Trent and Chip, I felt the decision to change our football leadership was absolutely necessary,” said CEO Jed York.
Baalke confirmed earlier Sunday that the team had let him go after a six-year run as its GM, while ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Saturday that Kelly would also exit as part of “widespread changes” for the franchise.
Kelly, unlike Baalke, had neither a long nor remotely successful tenure with the 49ers. The offensive mind took over for the fired Jim Tomsula last winter and ultimately fared even worse than his predecessor, who guided San Francisco to a 5-11 finish in his lone year on the job. Under Kelly, the Niners amassed a paltry two wins – both of which came against the NFC West rival Rams. Kelly’s fast-paced offense was a major part of the problem, as the unit entered Sunday ranked 24th in DVOA, 27th in scoring and 29th in yardage.
Given his struggles in Philadelphia, where taking control over the roster led to his downfall, and San Francisco, it’s possible the 53-year-old Kelly’s days as an NFL coach are over. Kelly parlayed a 46-7 stretch at Oregon from 2009-12 into the Eagles’ head coaching job, which began in promising fashion. However, after back-to-back 10-win campaigns in 2013 and ’14, the Eagles sputtered to 6-9 in 2015 and let Kelly go with one week remaining in the season. He quickly landed in San Francisco, but his disastrous reign in the Bay Area leaves him with a 28-35 mark in nearly four full seasons in the pros. While Kelly denied interest in a potential return to the college ranks in October, that will likely be his next stop.
As for the 49ers, with Baalke and Kelly in the rear-view mirror, they’ll embark on an “exhaustive” search for a new GM and head coach, per FOX Sports’ Peter Schrager (Twitter link). The next regime will take over a club that’s set to pick second in this year’s draft. Further adding to the allure of both positions is that the 49ers should have upward of $85MM in cap room, as Joel Corry of CBS Sports notes (Twitter link).