Eric Mangini’s strange ascendance in the 49ers’ hierarchy has come to an abrupt end.
Source tells @NFLonFOX that @49ers have fired defensive coordinator Eric Mangini
— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) January 22, 2016
My first question: Was he, like, Paraag fired or FIRED fired?
Apparently it’s the latter. The “Mangenius” — who started with the 49ers in 2013 in some sort of vague consultancy role that included deciding when to call for replay challenges, before coaching tight ends(?) in 2014 — was supposedly under consideration to stay on as the team’s defensive coordinator. However, things didn’t look good when Mike Vrabel was offered the job. Vrabel declined (here are some guesses why), but now the 49ers are reportedly looking at outside linebackers coach (and former Raiders DC) Jason Tarver and Ravens linebackers coach Don “Wink” Martindale.
They aren’t just firing people, though. The headline hire is the new offensive coordinator, Curtis Modkins, who was the running backs coach in Detroit. However, since Chip Kelly is his own offensive coordinator in a traditional sense, Modkins will probably be tasked with making sure the run game goes smoothly while helping Kelly prepare to call plays each week. Kelly clearly wanted a run-oriented guy as his OC, since they also interviewed Bills running backs coach (and assistant head coach) Anthony Lynn for the position.
The 49ers hired former Giants offensive line coach Pat Flaherty to handle the same job in Santa Clara. They also replaced former special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey (who was not a fan of Jarryd Hayne, to put it mildly) with Derius Swinton. Last season Swinton was the assistant special teams coach for the Bears. This comes after Ryan Day and Jerry Azzinaro came over from Philadelphia to continue as Kelly’s quarterbacks coach and defensive line coach, respectively.
Tom Rathman and Eric Wolford will remain with the 49ers in the same roles as before. Kelly called Rathman the best running backs coach in the league, and Wolford will be the team’s assistant offensive line coach.
The 49ers fired the following coaches earlier in the week:
- Offensive coordinator Geep Chryst
- Quarterbacks coach Steve Logan
- Receivers coach Ronald Curry
- Secondary coach Tim Lewis
- Defensive line coach Scott Brown
- Defensive assistants Ejiro Evero and Aubrayo Franklin
- Offensive assistants T.C. McCartney and Joe Scola
As for the other members of Jim Tomsula’s staff, Tony Sparano (tight ends) became the Vikings offensive line coach, Chris Foerster (offensive line) took the same job with the Dolphins, Adam Henry (receivers) will coach receivers for the Giants and Clancy Pendergast (inside linebackers) is now USC’s defensive coordinator.
