Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images
It’s a whole new era in Santa Clara, sort of. Robert Saleh is heading to New Jersey, and he almost certainly won’t be alone. Since the Kyle Shanahan-John Lynch era began back in 2017, it was a matter of time before poachings began.
We reviewed the coaching staff last year, and how it was likelier to be remembered among the NFL’s greatest. Now, there’s evidence to support that. Already, from the staff from last year, you have multiple moves and promotions on the way. Here’s what’s in progress, and a roundup of potential moves:
Official:
- Joe Woods: Defensive backs coach (2019) —-> Defensive coordinator, Cleveland Browns
- Chris Kiffin: Pass rush specialist (2019) —-> Defensive line coach, Cleveland Browns
- Robert Saleh: Defensive coordinator —-> Head coach, New York Jets
Likely moves:
- Mike Lafleur: Passing game coordinator —-> Offensive coordinator, New York Jets
- DeMeco Ryans: Inside linebackers coach —-> Defensive coordinator, San Francisco 49ers
- Mike McDaniel: Run game coordinator —-> Offensive coordinator, San Francisco 49ers
Per multiple reports, Lafleur is likely to follow Saleh. NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco reported McDaniel is likely to get at least the nominal promotion to offensive coordinator.
Possible moves:
- Miles Austin: Offensive control coach (2019) —-> Wide receivers coach, New York Jets
- Aaron Whitecotton: Assistant defensive line coach —-> Defensive line coach, New York Jets
- Daniel Bullocks: Safeties coach —-> Defensive backs coach, New York Jets
- Mike Rutenberg: Defensive passing game specialist —-> Linebackers coach, New York Jets
- John Benton: Offensive line coach —-> Offensive line coach, New York Jets
Rich Cimini reported that Austin could follow Saleh as the Jets’ wide receivers coach.
As new #Jets coach Robert Saleh assembles his staff … a name to watch for WRs coach is Miles Austin, the former #Cowboys WR. Spent the 2019 season as #49ers offensive quality-control coach. Jersey guy. Monmouth U.
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) January 15, 2021
All the other names are coaches who have coached with Saleh in the past. Whitecotton was with Saleh in Jacksonville and replaced, effectively, Chris Kiffin. He is a defensive line coach candidate. Daniel Bullocks was with Saleh, also, in Jacksonville, in 2016, and followed him to the 49ers. Rutenberg was an assistant linebackers coach in Jacksonville during that same period. Benton spent time with Saleh both in Houston and Jacksonville, and the 49ers have something of a logjam in the offensive line coaching room, with Chris Foerster currently the assistant offensive line coach.
On Thursday, we looked at who may follow Saleh to his next coaching stop. With the Jets projected to have at least $60 million in cap space, here are a few names to look out for: Richard Sherman, K’Waun Wiliams, Ronald Blair, Kerry Hyder.
Front office:
- Vice president of player personnel Adam Peters: Interviewed for general manager post with the Carolina Panthers. Currently: Panthers hired Seattle VP of football operations Scott Fitterer.
- Vice president of player personnel Martin Mayhew: Interviewed for general manager post with Washington Football Team. Currently: GM search ongoing.
What’s the upshot of all of this? First, the 49ers clearly like to promote from within, when they can. Rather than going with Raheem Morris, the 49ers will give DeMeco Ryans a shot to replace Saleh. Ryans is well-respected as a former two-time Pro Bowler, and has a deeply familial connection with his young linebacker group, telling KNBR at the Super Bowl last year, “Been a huge blessing, a huge honor to coach those guys… We love each other.”
When you lose Saleh, you’re losing a guy who commands the respect of his players, who they’re not just willing to, but enthusiastic about putting their body on the line for. By choosing Ryans, you keep the same system in place, and you keep a guy who is already just as respected and loved by the most valuable group on your defense.
The defining factor of his success will obviously be scheme, and whether he can be as innovative and flexible as Saleh became, but based on how he’s described by players and coaches around him, as a relentless, studious, hungry coach, there’s every reason to believe he’ll be just that. That doesn’t preclude growing pains, but the long-term upshot appears deeply optimistic with Ryans.
McDaniel has reportedly interviewed for the offensive coordinator position with the Miami Dolphins, but is deeply indebted to Kyle Shanahan. He has had addiction issues in the past and credits Shanahan for sticking by him and supporting him during those times. With Lafleur leaving, as expected, with Saleh, it seemed unlikely McDaniel would also leave. He’s clearly one of Shanahan’s most closely trusted assistants.
But with Lafleur leaving and getting an offensive coordinator job, the 49ers can’t simply leave McDaniel as run game coordinator. The pair were effective co-OC’s without play-calling duties, and admitted their job titles were less than rigid. So while, it may only amount to a pay bump, by proxy of Lafleur leaving, it will also increase McDaniel’s role.
There has been some wariness around the league about giving McDaniel an offensive coordinator gig or becoming a future head coach because, well, he doesn’t look the part. He’s a short, Yale-educated dude from Colorado who is an absolute football genius. As ridiculous as that part of the hiring process is, it’s real, and it’s part of the reason, in addition to being tethered to Shanahan, why it has always been more likely for Lafleur to go before McDaniel.
As for the rest of the assistants and position coach poachings potentially on hand, it’s hard to stress too much. They’ll find replacements, and the 49ers’ style is clearly to always be grooming successors.
And for the front office, it looks, at least right now, like Adam Peters will stay on for one more year. The remaining general manager vacancies are the Lions, Washington and Jaguars, but it’s been reported that former 49ers GM Trent Baalke is likely to remain on. The Texans, Broncos, Panthers and Falcons vacancies have all been filled.
That leaves just two spots for Peters and Mayhew. Peters has not been reported to have interviewed for either the Lions or Washington job, meaning it’s increasingly likely he returns for another year. Mayhew is discernibly still in contention for the Washington job.
If Mayhew does get hired as Washington’s general manager, the 49ers would receive a 2023 compensatory third-round pick, in addition to the 2021 and 2022 compensatory third-round picks they’ll receive for Robert Saleh’s hiring with the Jets. The team is also projected to get a fifth-round compensatory pick for Emmanuel Sanders’ departure this offseason.