The 49ers have announced three assistant coaches will follow Jim Harbaugh from Stanford to San Francisco: Vic Fangio (defensive coordinator), Greg Roman (offensive coordinator) and Tim Drevno (offensive line). According to multiple reports, Drevno will share offensive-line duties with Mike Solari.
Before Josh Johnson and before Andrew Luck, there was Todd Mortensen, Harbaugh’s first quarterback during his first season as a head coach.
Roman, 38, will become the 49ers’ ninth offensive coordinator since 2003 and the third in the past four months. Of course, there is reason to believe Roman might have a bit more staying power given his close and successful working relationship with Harbaugh, who is expected to be involved in play-calling.
In discussing Harbaugh’s greatest assets this week, Lamb said his ability to assemble an A-list coaching staff ranked near the top of the list. Lamb, who spent two years (2005-06) with Harbaugh at the University of San Diego, went so far as to say Harbaugh’s ability to identify great coaches – coupled with own coaching ability – would make him a success in the NBA or major leagues.
With that — and Tollner’s 40-plus years of NFL and college coaching experience — as a backdrop, it was interesting to get his impressions of modern-day quarterback guru Jim Harbaugh this week.
Jim had this sign in his office at Stanford: STANFORD FOOTBALL IS HUSTLE. CONSTANT HUSTLE. HUSTLING ALL THE TIME. John liked it. He now has this sign up in his office: RAVENS FOOTBALL IS HUSTLE. CONSTANT HUSTLE. HUSTLING ALL THE TIME.
During the nearly 20-minute session, reporters wandered in and out of the scrum surrounding the Niners president and CEO. As a result, Jed York kept getting asked the same question: Do you feel vindicated?
One got the impression the ultra-competitive, tobacco-chewing coach would have rather met the media with his suit off and his feet up in his not-yet-decorated office in Santa Clara. After all, that’s where he was headed after the tape recorders and cameras clicked off.
If the reports are accurate, Harbaugh turned down at least $2 million per year to sign a five-year, $25 million deal with San Francisco. The Dolphins reportedly were offering Harbaugh close to $8 million annually.
Five days after concluding its eighth straight non-winning season, San Francisco won a high-stakes pursuit for Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh today. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Harbaugh has agreed to a five-year, $25 million deal with the Niners.
Welcome to Freaky Friday, which began with the news that the pursuit of Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh has become a Bay Area battle between the 49ers and Stanford.
Niners. Broncos. And – oh my – perceived longshot Stanford, suddenly, had shifted into the driver’s seat by Thursday night in the quest to secure the coach who has launched a thousand reports.
This morning, San Jose Mercury News columnist Tim Kawakami, citing an NFL source, tweeted “Indications are that Jim Harbaugh will accept Miami’s huge offer.”
The Dolphins, who still have coach Tony Sparano in place, are reportedly prepared to make Harbaugh the NFL’s highest-paid coach. The Patriots’ Bill Belichick, who earns roughly $7.5 million a year, currently has that distinction.
Harbaugh may, indeed, be here at the Four Seasons meeting with 49ers officials. But I can report with absolute certainty that Harbaugh was not in the lobby of the Four Seasons from 1-3 p.m. today.
Two years ago, Mike Singletary was in charge of hiring the 49ers new offensive coordinator, a dynamic which, in retrospect, was like enlisting your wife to fix the leaky carburetor while drafting your fantasy football team.
“I have had the benefit of watching Trent closely in the recent months and have been very impressed with his knowledge and leadership,” York said in a statement released by the team. “I am confident that Trent will find the 49ers an excellent head coach who will lead us to great success in the coming years.”
Now, another report suggests the team is closing in on their top head-coaching candidate, Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh. According to the San Jose Mercury News, the 49ers are “likely” to land Harbaugh this week.
Of the four other known bidders for Harbaugh’s services – the Broncos, Dolphins, Michigan and his current employer, Stanford – there is a report that Michigan, perceived to be an early favorite, is off the list.
Before you could say “Rooney Rule,” reports surfaced this morning that the 49ers have requested permission from two teams to interview minority head-coaching candidates: Raiders offensive coordinator Hue Jackson and Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell.
