SATURDAY, 7:38pm: The 49ers did interview DeFilippo, but they view him as a candidate for their offensive coordinator job more than their vacant head coaching position, Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News reports (Twitter link).
FRIDAY, 10:18am: After having interviewed former Eagles head coach Chip Kelly and Bills assistant HC Anthony Lynn, the 49ers are meeting today with Browns offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), today’s sit-down between the DeFilippo and the Niners is more of an “informational” meeting, rather than a formal interview.
[RELATED: 49ers meet with Chip Kelly, Anthony Lynn]
DeFilippo, in his first year as the Browns’ offensive coordinator, has also drawn interest from the Rams for St. Louis’ OC position, even though he didn’t exactly work miracles in Cleveland. The Browns’ offense finishing 25th in the NFL in yards per game (331.9) and 30th in points per game (17.4).
Still, given the players he had to work with, it may have taken a miracle for DeFilippo to produce above-average results. The Browns started three different quarterbacks – Josh McCown, Johnny Manziel, and Austin Davis – and saw free agent signee Dwayne Bowe, who received a $9MM guarantee, catch just five balls. The team was also missing top wideout Josh Gordon, who was suspended for the year.
As for the 49ers, Rapoport describes their mutual interest with Kelly as “very real” (Twitter link), while Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (Twitter link) hears that Kelly is a big fan of Colin Kaepernick. That may work in Kelly’s favor as the Niners consider their head coaching options, but as Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes, several other candidates for the job would be excited about working with Kaepernick, or have had interest in him in the past.
Be sure to check out PFR’s head coaching search tracker for the latest on San Francisco’s hunt for Jim Tomsula‘s replacement, as well as updates on the other six openings around the NFL.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
t surprising at all.Flip did an outstanding job dealing with Billy Football, a revolving door QB situation, dwarf sizes receivers who were concussed every other week, NO playmakers, and the dysfunctional Cleveland front office. The offense isn’t why they lost games. Flip had to change his game plan early nearly every game because the porous and overpaid defense forced him to play catch up. Browns would be smart to keep him and McCown to tutor the next QB.
Guess people are saying the 49ers are dumpster diving for coaches again. Others say they are looking for a oc for the new coach. Either idea is more 49er lunacy. If everyone else like shaw face etc.. Give them the finger they go with another wannabe with no experience that no one wants didn’t work after mooch and won’t after harbaugh. If they think they assist getting someone’s staff together they should have kept Tomsula, think Jackson Kelly holmgren, Shanahan will put up with another management rat like they did with harbaugh? ( keeping Tomsula) if their that desperate or stupid , we will lose anyway. In any scenario this looks like a typical fubar of York size demensions! But celebrate….it means the 2nd stooge, parcels mini me will be gone. Fans will cheer!