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State of the 49ers: Tomsula, Fangio, Gase seen as Harbaugh replacements
November 30, 2014 8:28 am ET
There is growing speculation that Jim Harbaugh will not return next season. (USATSI) There is growing speculation that Jim Harbaugh will not return next season. (USATSI)
With the season getting closer to its conclusion and 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh still without a new contract and all but certain to be coaching elsewhere next season, speculation about his next stop -- whether it be the Raiders, the University of Michigan, the Jets or the Dolphins -- will continue. But if he does depart with a year remaining on his existing contract, the next 49ers head coach could already be on staff.
The 49ers believe they have several capable coaches under contract now, according to numerous league sources, and if Harbaugh departs, defensive line coach Jim Tomsula and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio would be at the top of their list of candidates to replace him. League sources said that Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase is seen as a top external candidate, but the team is expected to thoroughly explore its internal candidates as well. The 49ers, who have a bevy of big contracts already on the payroll for 2015, could be in line for a reshaping of the roster as well as the coaching ranks.
Owner Jed York has long been a fan of Tomsula's, who was named interim head coach when Mike Singletary was fired in-season and who has a strong interview for the Vikings head coaching vacancy last year. Tomsula has a long history with the team and has been viewed by other clubs as a potential head coaching candidate in recent years. He relates well to players, who respond to his direct style and play hard for him, his unit has annually been among the best in the game and he is someone the organization would love to keep on staff.
Fangio has also done a tremendous job and he, too, would merit consideration to replace Harbaugh, sources said. Like Tomsula, it's expected that the 49ers would get requests from other teams to interview Fangio for head coach opportunities and management would love to be able to keep the bulk of its defensive staff in place, sources said, with that unit continuing to thrive this season despite a slew of significant injuries.
While the 49ers would interview some outside candidates and must obviously comply with the Rooney Rule as well should they seek a new head coach, it would not surprise many around the league if they did promote from within. Trying to lure a high-priced, big-name coach doesn't hit their model (they have balked at paying Harbaugh, with trips to three straight championship games, the $7 million-plus a year he hopes to command). Former Jets and Browns head coach Eric Mangini is also on staff, but many around the league expect him to go with Harbaugh, while offensive coordinator Greg Roman might do the same depending on which job Harbaugh lands.
Defensive line coach Jim Tomsula has a long history with the 49ers. (USATSI) Defensive line coach Jim Tomsula has a long history with the 49ers. (USATSI)
With a year left on his deal, the 49ers are expected to seek draft pick compensation in a trade of Harbaugh should he go the NFL route, while several colleges will approach him as well, most notably Michigan, where he played and has strong ties.
As for its roster, San Francisco currently has $149.5 million committed in 2015 cap space, with the cap projected to be $144 million, and they have a slew of key free agents and aging veterans making big money who might not be back. Salary cap specialists and execs from other teams, who have sized up the 49ers contracts, believe that linebacker Ahmad Brooks ($9.6 million cap number for 2015) will not be back and they also believe the team may have to chose between two key linebackers coming back from serious injury (Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman each has a cap number over $8 million.
The team's receiver group could be overhauled. Steve Johnson won't be back at a $5.5 million salary and these execs believed it's virtually certain Anquan Boldin, who has a $5.5 million base salary and a $3 million guarantee that comes due in March, will not be back at that salary, either. Michael Crabtree and Brandon Lloyd are unrestricted free agents.
Long-time dominant running back Frank Gore is nearing the end and his contract is up after this season. Defensive line stalwart Justin Smith has been considering retirement for years and it's hard to see the 49ers paying Ray McDonald a $4.1 million salary with a $6.5 million cap number. The secondary could have a different look as well with corners Perrish Cox, Chris Culliver and Chris Cook all pending free agents after the season.
The new coaching staff, should Harbaugh depart, will have its own schemes and system-fit players to acquire and it could well be that this three-year run, and window to win with this staff and roster as presently constituted, is ending. Many around the league anticipate more of the lingering bad blood between Harbaugh and the management and ownership of the 49ers to continue to boil over in the coming weeks, particularly if this team ends up merely playing out the string in December.
November 30, 2014 8:28 am ET
There is growing speculation that Jim Harbaugh will not return next season. (USATSI) There is growing speculation that Jim Harbaugh will not return next season. (USATSI)
With the season getting closer to its conclusion and 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh still without a new contract and all but certain to be coaching elsewhere next season, speculation about his next stop -- whether it be the Raiders, the University of Michigan, the Jets or the Dolphins -- will continue. But if he does depart with a year remaining on his existing contract, the next 49ers head coach could already be on staff.
The 49ers believe they have several capable coaches under contract now, according to numerous league sources, and if Harbaugh departs, defensive line coach Jim Tomsula and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio would be at the top of their list of candidates to replace him. League sources said that Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase is seen as a top external candidate, but the team is expected to thoroughly explore its internal candidates as well. The 49ers, who have a bevy of big contracts already on the payroll for 2015, could be in line for a reshaping of the roster as well as the coaching ranks.
Owner Jed York has long been a fan of Tomsula's, who was named interim head coach when Mike Singletary was fired in-season and who has a strong interview for the Vikings head coaching vacancy last year. Tomsula has a long history with the team and has been viewed by other clubs as a potential head coaching candidate in recent years. He relates well to players, who respond to his direct style and play hard for him, his unit has annually been among the best in the game and he is someone the organization would love to keep on staff.
Fangio has also done a tremendous job and he, too, would merit consideration to replace Harbaugh, sources said. Like Tomsula, it's expected that the 49ers would get requests from other teams to interview Fangio for head coach opportunities and management would love to be able to keep the bulk of its defensive staff in place, sources said, with that unit continuing to thrive this season despite a slew of significant injuries.
While the 49ers would interview some outside candidates and must obviously comply with the Rooney Rule as well should they seek a new head coach, it would not surprise many around the league if they did promote from within. Trying to lure a high-priced, big-name coach doesn't hit their model (they have balked at paying Harbaugh, with trips to three straight championship games, the $7 million-plus a year he hopes to command). Former Jets and Browns head coach Eric Mangini is also on staff, but many around the league expect him to go with Harbaugh, while offensive coordinator Greg Roman might do the same depending on which job Harbaugh lands.
Defensive line coach Jim Tomsula has a long history with the 49ers. (USATSI) Defensive line coach Jim Tomsula has a long history with the 49ers. (USATSI)
With a year left on his deal, the 49ers are expected to seek draft pick compensation in a trade of Harbaugh should he go the NFL route, while several colleges will approach him as well, most notably Michigan, where he played and has strong ties.
As for its roster, San Francisco currently has $149.5 million committed in 2015 cap space, with the cap projected to be $144 million, and they have a slew of key free agents and aging veterans making big money who might not be back. Salary cap specialists and execs from other teams, who have sized up the 49ers contracts, believe that linebacker Ahmad Brooks ($9.6 million cap number for 2015) will not be back and they also believe the team may have to chose between two key linebackers coming back from serious injury (Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman each has a cap number over $8 million.
The team's receiver group could be overhauled. Steve Johnson won't be back at a $5.5 million salary and these execs believed it's virtually certain Anquan Boldin, who has a $5.5 million base salary and a $3 million guarantee that comes due in March, will not be back at that salary, either. Michael Crabtree and Brandon Lloyd are unrestricted free agents.
Long-time dominant running back Frank Gore is nearing the end and his contract is up after this season. Defensive line stalwart Justin Smith has been considering retirement for years and it's hard to see the 49ers paying Ray McDonald a $4.1 million salary with a $6.5 million cap number. The secondary could have a different look as well with corners Perrish Cox, Chris Culliver and Chris Cook all pending free agents after the season.
The new coaching staff, should Harbaugh depart, will have its own schemes and system-fit players to acquire and it could well be that this three-year run, and window to win with this staff and roster as presently constituted, is ending. Many around the league anticipate more of the lingering bad blood between Harbaugh and the management and ownership of the 49ers to continue to boil over in the coming weeks, particularly if this team ends up merely playing out the string in December.
Supposedly SF is looking for a draft pick for Harbaugh. Depending on how we finish the season, could we see a Gase for Harbaugh trade?
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