For the third time in three years, the San Francisco 49ers have fired their head coach.
Even worse, CEO Jed York has fired the team’s last two head coaches, Chip Kelly and Jim Tomsula, after one season, something that hasn’t in the NFL for three decades. Couple that with the firing of general manger Trent Baalke, and it’s hard to see San Francisco as a destination that screams job security.
ESPN NFL insider Chris Mortensen said that for that reason, and the lack of talent on the San Francisco roster, the 49ers are on paper, the least attractive destination for a head coaching prospect. The only saving grace is the team’s illustrious history.
“It’s on paper the least attractive right now,” Mortensen said on KNBR 1050s The Audible Monday morning. “But it’s still the 49ers.”
Mortensen said that Stanford head coach David Shaw is probably the best possible candidate to help rebuild the organization, but said that he – like many top tier coaching candidates – may be turned off by the team’s recent track record.
“If for instance you could do – what appears to be the improbable – which is persuade David Shaw to switch over from college back to the NFL, you’re probably getting a guy who knows exactly how to build, or certainly understands how to build what you’re gonna do,” Mortensen said. “But then it’s a whole thing of but then do you pick the GM first or the coach first. I think it depends on who’s really intrigued by your job. That’s the question: has Jed York built an organization that others who are top-notch people are intrigued by? Do they want to come work in San Francisco?”
Listen to the full interview below.