The past few days have been transformational for the 49ers coaching staff.
After leading his team to its second NFC Championship in three seasons, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan has been re-shuffling his assistants.
There is still plenty of time for the coaching staff to change before the 2022 staff is finalized, but here’s a look at all the storylines since the end of the 49ers season.
Mike McDaniel, Offensive Coordinator
The 38-year-old offensive whiz secured a head-coaching gig with the Miami Dolphins Sunday after one season as Shanahan’s offensive coordinator. The Dolphins shared photos of McDaniel and his family flying to Miami on Monday.
McDaniel has been working with Shanahan since 2006 and cultivated a reputation as one of the forward-thinkers in Shanahan’s offensive systems, primarily responsible for the run game. No matter who the 49ers seemed to plug in over the past couple of years has had success, whether it be Raheem Mostert, Elijah Mitchell or Deebo Samuel. In 2021, the 49ers ranked seventh in the NFL with 127.4 rushing yards per game and tied for fifth with 22 rushing touchdowns. It’s worth noting that Shanahan still called the plays this past season despite McDaniel’s title as coordinator.
McDaniel reportedly nailed his initial Zoom interview before going through a 10-hour interview last week that buttoned up the job. McDaniel inherits an offense with talented but mercurial quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who completed 67.8 percent of his passes for 2,653 yards, 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last year with 42 rushes for 128 yards and three more scores.
In his short time in the spotlight with local media, McDaniel showed off his sense of humor, like the time he dropped a classic mid-2000s rap reference in one of his Zoom sessions.
This marks the second straight season that one of Shanahan’s coordinators has found a head-coaching gig, as former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh went 4-13 in his debut with the New York Jets in 2021.
It will be worth watching to see if McDaniel brings along any of his former 49ers co-workers to Miami to join his staff.
Anthony Lynn, Assistant Head Coach
A couple of days before the McDaniel hiring was announced, the 49ers reportedly added some insurance by agreeing to terms with former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn. Lynn is expected to join as an assistant head coach with an emphasis on developing the offensive gameplan, meaning he’ll help fill the void left by McDaniel. The 49ers are yet to make a formal Lynn announcement as of Monday afternoon.
Lynn is renowned for his run-game engineering and work with dual-threat quarterbacks. He helped the Buffalo Bills achieve the NFL’s top rushing attack in 2015 before taking over as offensive coordinator for Greg Roman, who was fired early in the 2016 season. The Bills led the NFL in rushing again in 2016, but Lynn’s Chargers never finished better than 15th in rushing during his four seasons in LA.
Many are excited to see how Lynn utilizes Trey Lance’s running abilities, as mobile quarterback Tyrod Taylor racked up 1,148 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns combined in the 2015-16 seasons. Pass game coordinator Bobby Slowik is also expected to have an increased role with Lynn and Shanahan in designing the offensive attack.
The 52-year-old Lynn is also renowned for his leadership skills and should serve as a solid right-hand man for Shanahan.
Richard Hightower, Special Teams Coordinator
49ers special teams had a redeeming moment in the snow at Lambeau Field when coordinator Richard Hightower inserted Jordan Willis into the punt block unit and he delivered, pawing a punt before Talanoa Hufanga corralled it for a late, game-tying score in the epic 13-10 NFC Divisional Round win over the Green Bay Packers.
Hightower’s unit was maligned all season long for its lack of production on returns and propensity to give up big plays in coverage. As David Lombardi of The Athletic noted, Hightower’s squads were slowly on the decline throughout his years in San Francisco.
Hightower made a lateral move to the Chicago Bears as their new special teams coordinator on Sunday. With the opening, some were quick to point out former Raiders coach Rich Bisaccia and former Giants coach Joe Judge as options, but Bisaccia reportedly agreed to terms with the Packers to be their special teams coordinator Monday.
Jon Embree, Tight Ends Coach
Many eyebrows were raised when the 49ers ended their relationship with tight ends coach/assistant head coach Jon Embree last week. But things became clearer once Lynn was hired and McDaniel was poached by the Dolphins.
Embree is reportedly drawing interest from the Denver Broncos for tight ends coach. Embree was the head coach at the University of Colorado for two seasons in 2011-12. He also graduated from a Denver area high school, played for the Buffs and started his coaching career as a volunteer in Boulder in 1991.
DeMeco Ryans, Defensive Coordinator
The Minnesota Vikings pursued the 49ers defensive coordinator this offseason but he declined a second interview to stay in San Francisco. This could be the final season that the 37-year-old is roaming the sidelines with Shanahan, as he’s considered to be a rising head-coaching candidate.
Despite a revolving door at cornerback, the 49ers ranked third in total defense (310 yards per game), sixth in pass defense (206.5 yards per game), seventh in rush defense (103.5 yards per game) and ninth in scoring defense (21.5 points per game).
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In large part, those numbers were buoyed by a defensive front that Ryans and his staff helped solidify with key personnel decisions midway through the season. Once Javon Kinlaw underwent season-ending knee surgery, Arik Armstead was moved inside and players like D.J. Jones and Arden Key thrived in bigger roles. It also helped to have that Nick Bosa guy roaming around the edge.
Jones is a free agent along with others like safety Jaquiski Tartt and nickel back K’Waun Williams. Unheralded d-linemen like Key, Jordan Willis, Kentavius Street and Kevin Givens are also free agents. But Fred Warner is still patrolling the middle and the team has a promising player in second-year corner Ambry Thomas
Ryans’ crew should have the same feel in 2022.
Bobby Turner, Running Backs Coach
According to recent comments from Shanahan, running backs coach Bobby Turner remains meticulous as ever at the age of 72. Matt Barrows of The Athletic wonders if Turner wants to keep coaching, however.
If Turner left, Barrows suggests that Lynn would be able to fill in as a running backs coach and assistant head coach. Turner worked with Shanahan on the Washington Football Team (2010-13) and Atlanta Falcons (2015-16) before following him to Santa Clara in 2017.
Draft picks
Under the NFL’s rules to promote minority hires, the 49ers have been awarded third-round selections in 2022 and 2023 as compensation for the hiring of McDaniel, who is biracial.
Last offseason, the 49ers received three compensatory third-round picks (one each in 2021, 2022 and 2023) after Saleh’s hire by the Jets and Washington brought on Martin Mayhew as general manager.
The 49ers traded away their 2022 compensatory selection to the Dolphins last year when they also packaged three first-rounders to move up to No. 3 overall to select Trey Lance. They used their 2021 compensatory third-rounder on Thomas at No. 102 overall.
The 49ers now have one 2022 third-round compensatory pick and two 2023 third-round compensatory picks. Considering that Ryans could be hired next year, the 49ers could recoup two more compensatory picks in the 2023 offseason.
San Francisco still doesn’t have a first-round pick until 2024, but any selection near the top 100 is a valuable one for the franchise.
