Longtime running backs coach Tom Rathman won’t return to the 49ers‘ staff despite Kyle Shanahan‘s interest in retaining him. Shanahan recently gave Rathman’s job to veteran running backs instructor Bobby Turner after promising he would upon landing a head coaching position. Rathman will pursue options elsewhere as a result.
“I’m not going to be back,” Rathman said, via Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. “I feel like it’s the best for everybody if I just parted and let those guys do their thing and take me out of the equation so that nobody’s uncomfortable. I’m looking to coach running backs and that’s what I want to do. I’m just going to wait for the next opportunity and go for it when it happens.”
Shanahan and new GM John Lynch met with Rathman on Thursday in an attempt to find another position for him, but the 54-year-old coach didn’t think such a role existed that made sense. Rathman coached the 49ers’ backs since 2009 and previously served on Steve Mariucci’s staff from 1997-2002, doing so after a playing career highlighted by starting roles on two 49ers Super Bowl champions. Rathman told Maiocco he would take a year off if necessary but wants to stay in the NFL coaching ranks.
Here’s more out of San Francisco and other NFC cities.
- Should Colin Kaepernick not opt out of his 49ers deal, Maiocco expects the team to release him to avoid being on the hook for a $14.9MM salary in 2017. The sides could then discuss another contract, with Kaepernick potentially opening a door to a return by contacting Lynch recently. Lynch and Kaepernick are expected to meet in the near future. Kaepernick has vacillated on the opt-out decision. He would generate interest on the market and add another big name to the list of potentially available quarterbacks, joining Jay Cutler, Tony Romo and Jimmy Garoppolo. The 49ers have been linked to both Cutler and Garoppolo, along with Kirk Cousins, who could be Shanahan’s first choice.
- Speaking of Cutler, the Bears extending the polarizing talent in 2014 came against the preference of members of the then-Marc Trestman-led coaching staff, but then-GM Phil Emery made the move anyway, John Mullen of CSNChicago.com writes. The Bears are now likely to move on from Cutler after eight seasons since the aforementioned seven-year, $126MM contract leaves them a 2017 escape hatch.
- Mullen adds the conventional sense is Brian Hoyer will return to the Bears as a stopgap solution. Hoyer threw for 300 yards in four of five starts before going down with a broken arm, completing 67 percent of his passes and not throwing an interception. The UFA passer could have options as a backup plan for other teams, however, forcing the Bears to up the ante if they want to keep the 31-year-old passer. Bringing Hoyer back as a mentor-type player for a to-be-determined draft pick — and short-term starter — strikes Mullen as a reasonable idea due to the team’s positive view of him as a veteran leader.
- Mike Glennon serves as another UFA option, but has an interesting profile. At least six teams inquired about Glennon’s availability during the 2014 draft to Buccaneers GM Jason Licht, per FanRag Sports’ Roy Cummings, but that interest diminished as years passed. Glennon drew “a couple” of trade inquiries in the 2015 draft, and the soon-to-be backup quarterback did not draw any offers during the ’16 draft or before last season’s trade deadline, Cummings notes. However, his sample size — 18 starts, with 30 TD passes and 15 INTs mixed in — makes him a less volatile commodity than Brock Osweiler in Cummings’ mind. Glennon is expected to draw interest as a free agent, with the bidding potentially going as high as $15MM per year. The Jets are reportedly intrigued by Jameis Winston‘s former backup.
Surprising to see Garoppolo a big name QB on the free agent list, what has he really done but watch Tom Brady play?
He “learned” under one of the greats. As did hoyer, cassel, kevin o’connell. We all know the amazing careers they have had, so naturally garoppolo is a big name.
If im not mistaken, matt flynns two career starts produced better numbers than garoppolos, so why doesnt anyone learn from this.
He’s not a free agent, under contract for one more year.
So fun to watch the Niners be so frickin desperate.
WHY the Niners need to be so “frickin desperate?” If you know anything about the NFL or FB for that matter teams are NOT built competitive from one season to the next. If you do you are either misinformed or naive. BTW that’s why Shanahan and Lynch were signed to six years contract respectively. Thank you
Yeah it was crazy to see how quickly the 49ers fell off the grid…they did have a lot of unfortunate things happen but in my opinion the main reason it derailed so abruptly is because they let Harbaugh go…after two uninspiring coaching hires it seems like they have got themselves back on the right track and I’d go as far as to say that Lynch replacing Baalke will be a huge upgrade…it’s going to take some time for them to get back on track though…I’d let Kaepernick walk and try and sign or trade for a stopgap option to bridge the gap between a Shanahan picked QB…it’s sad to see Rathman go, he should’ve been in the 49ers organization for life
If any of you have ever watched CSN Bay area Matt Matt Maiocco the 49ers beat writer would question his journalism integrity. I do, WHY?:
1. Journalists are supposed to inform NOT to heavily lobby for or against any player. Mr. MM does his best to lobby against CK7 particularly if interviewed by CSN Dave Feldman.
2. Mr. MM tried his best to defend Blaine Gabbert often ignoring his passing QBR.
3. Add his super loyal blogger in love Harry Berezin who always put people down bragging how rich he is NOT to mention his constant reference that he attended top schools including law school. Mr. HB is as liberal as you can find and always bullying any blogger that he disagrees with by asking if that person voted for POTUS Mr. Trump. Go figure.