While the 49ers hope to make a statement with a third consecutive victory, 49ers coach Mike Nolan is ready to make a statement of his own - a fashion statement.
The NFL has given Nolan permission for the first time to wear a suit on the sideline. He is expected to wear a coat and tie on the sideline Sunday when the 49ers face the NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks at Monster Park.
Nolan's attire will be on a trial basis. He might be allowed to wear a suit for only two games this season.
"There's a strong chance he'll be wearing a suit for this game," said a source close to Nolan on Tuesday. "But at the end of the day, they still want to sell hats and shirts instead of blazers."
Nolan originally asked the NFL for permission to wear a suit on the sideline shortly after he was named 49ers head coach in January 2005. The league denied his request, deciding he must wear the NFL-sponsored garb like every other coach in the league.
Nolan met with representatives from Reebok last year and again in June to discuss alternatives.
NFL coaches have worn clothes from a limited wardrobe, including sweater vests and polo shirts, since 1993 when the league formed its NFL Properties division. Reebok is the official sponsor of sideline clothing for coaches. The league's $250 million contract with Reebok runs through the 2012 season.
Nolan has said he prefers the sideline attire worn by coaches of previous generations, most notably his father, Dick, and former Cowboys coach Tom Landry. Dick Nolan, who coached the 49ers from 1968 to '75, regularly wore a coat and tie on the sideline. Landry fashioned a similar ensemble, along with his trademark fedora.
One of Nolan's major coaching influences, Dan Reeves, was the last NFL coach to wear a jacket and tie on the sideline. But Reeves was forced to don NFL-licensed gear along with all the other coaches when he went to the Atlanta Falcons in 1997.
Nolan said in the past that head coaches should be allowed to dress in a manner that commands respect. He said several other NFL coaches have also expressed their desire to wear suits on the sideline.
Last month, Nolan intimated he would be allowed to wear a suit before the end of the season. He said the league had given him reason to beleive a compromise would be reached.
Nolan, who was busy in meetings preparing for Sunday's game, was unavailable for comment Tuesday evening. The league office had no official comment.
Comments | Add Comment
Posted By: Philippe from Brussels (belgium) (16/11/2006 1:56:57 AM)
Comment: Hi Matt,
Your blog is just great. Thank's for the informations.
I have just a little question for you:
With your actual knowledge which position for next season do you think can be and would be filled by free agency and which by the draft
Thanks
Posted By: red & gold (15/11/2006 10:25:47 PM)
Comment: Matt: Is there any other San Francisco land available for a new stadium? I haven't heard anything but Candlestick Point.
Posted By: Cruxis (15/11/2006 2:43:55 PM)
Comment: Matt, I'm curious as to why the TE position in the Niners offense seems to be under utilized. Going into the season I was reading how Norv Turner loved to get the TE involved in the passing game. Eric Johnson is no slouch when it comes to receiving. Any ideas why we're not seeing more balls thrown his way?
Posted By: brad hurst (15/11/2006 11:22:03 AM)
Comment: Off subject sorry-You cant trademark the 49er name .it was a group of people in the california gold rush ....and they were in the sierra foothills not the bay area.you cant trademark this .its history.
Posted By: Spee (15/11/2006 9:45:02 AM)
Comment: Matt, Are the Niners going to wear throwbacks again this weekend? If not, when? Thanks
Posted By: Spee (15/11/2006 9:45:02 AM)
Comment: Matt, Are the Niners going to wear throwbacks again this weekend? If not, when? Thanks
Posted By: Mike (15/11/2006 9:29:27 AM)
Comment: Hey Matt. I realize that this does not apply to this article, but I would like to get your opinion. When Seattle replaced the KingDome with the new stadium, they just played at UW for a while. With all of the fighting with the city of SF, do you think that the Niners might just play at Stanford or Cal while Monster is torn down and a new stadium built in the same place? It seems that would provide space for tailgating and get around a lot of the issues. Thanks. Mike from Portland, OR.
Posted By: John (15/11/2006 9:22:06 AM)
Comment: With respect to Nolan's desire to show some class by dressing appropriately, how does the NFL reconcile Bill Bilichick's ridiculous cut-off sweat shirts and funky head bands? His
Posted By: fads (15/11/2006 9:09:46 AM)
Comment: Seems to me, this is a great marketing for Reebok. Imagine designing a suit for coaches and athletes who don't dress for games, but want to meet the NBA dress code. Reebok-branded dress casual and sport coats with extra flexibility for ease of motion in throwing the challenge flag. Brilliant.
Posted By: six_parnassus (14/11/2006 9:42:29 PM)
Comment: For a superstitious guy, e.g., victory Mondays, is Nolan tempting fate with his new getup? Then again, maybe he, like we, smell 3 straight, a preemptive antidote to the first sqawking head sure to accuse Nolan of being ... well, you know ... an "empty __". Nice, reasonable take on the stadium, Yorks and Olympic committee in your earlier blog; nice because we concur; reasonable for the lack of infantile snark currently in vogue blathered by City & ex-City pols.
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