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San Francisco 49ers News & Rumors

49ers To Promote Klay Kubiak To OC; Brian Griese No Longer On Staff

February 26th, 2025 at 8:05am CST by Sam Robinson

FEBRUARY 26: Griese has decided to leave coaching after three seasons, the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch reports. The former NFL starter, 49, had weighed leaving after his first season with the 49ers but opted to keep going. Two years later, Purdy’s position coach is leaving the profession.

FEBRUARY 25: The 49ers are following through with their expected OC plan. They will promote Klay Kubiak to the post, according to a team announcement. That will give the NFC West two second-generation Kubiaks as OCs.

Klint‘s Seattle role will differ from Klay’s San Francisco description, as Kyle Shanahan will remain the 49ers’ play-caller. However, the 49ers are making a notable change just south of the OC level. Mick Lombardi is moving up to QBs coach, replacing Brian Griese.

To comply with the Rooney Rule, the 49ers interviewed Iowa State wide receivers coach Noah Pauley for the job. They also met with Oregon assistant Junior Adams, The Athletic’s Matt Barrows tweets. Adams has since taken over as the Cowboys’ wide receivers coach. This non-play-calling post was always expected to go to Klay Kubiak, who has been with the team since 2021.

This will mark a climb for the younger Kubiak brother, who was the team’s assistant QBs coach in 2023 and a pass-game specialist last season. Shanahan has not always filled his OC position, last using the title before Mike McDaniel‘s exit in 2021. While Shanahan will still run the show, Kubiak moving up a rung is somewhat consequential. He will be in place as the accomplished HC’s right-hand man on offense. That role has produced HC and play-calling opportunities in the recent past.

The Lombardi-for-Griese move changes out second-generation NFL personnel. This brings about an interesting development for Griese, who turned down the chance to interview for the Jets’ HC position earlier this offseason. The former QB-turned-announcer-turned-assistant was with the 49ers for three seasons, moving straight from the Monday Night Football booth to Shanahan’s staff. Griese was in place when Brock Purdy made a stunning surge from Mr. Irrelevant to late-season injury replacement to Super Bowl starter who went toe-to-toe with Patrick Mahomes. It will be interesting to see where Griese lands next.

After Michael Lombardi followed Bill Belichick to North Carolina, his son will reemerge in a prominent NFL role. Fired after 1 1/2 seasons as Raiders OC under Josh McDaniels, Mick Lombardi landed as a senior offensive assistant for the 49ers last season. The ex-Patriots staffer will work more closely with Purdy in 2025. This will be Lombardi’s first QBs coaching role at any level.

Broncos To Discuss Courtland Sutton Extension; Team Not Interested In Cooper Kupp, Deebo Samuel?

February 25th, 2025 at 3:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Courtland Sutton has now put together back-to-back quality seasons. After helping Russell Wilson rebound from a disastrous 2022 with a 10-touchdown 2023, the Broncos’ top wide receiver aided Bo Nix to boost the team’s playoff chances.

Sutton’s second career 1,000-yard season performed heavy lifting in Denver’s journey to a 10-7 record and first playoff berth in nine years. The veteran wide receiver remains tied to the $15MM-per-year extension he signed during the 2021 season. On one hand, Sutton secured a reasonable deal for a player with his accomplishments at the time. On the other, he tied himself down as multiple market booms transformed the position’s salary landscape.

That four-year, $60MM pact is up after the 2025 season. The Broncos were believed to have made this offseason the point they would discuss new terms with Sutton, after only agreeing to a minor incentive package in 2024. The talented receiver/trade-rumor mainstay is on the team’s extension radar, though it does not seem likely a new deal emerges soon within days or weeks.

“[GM] George [Paton] and I were just talking about it. Those discussions will take place [between] George, Courtland’s [agent],” Sean Payton said (via 9News’ Mike Klis). “We felt he had a real good season; he’s important to what we’re doing. So all of that will happen in time and I don’t think now’s the time.”

Paton did say he will meet with Sutton’s agent at the Combine. Sutton, 29, has made the interesting transition from a player thrown into trade rumors at just about every trade window between the 2022 and ’24 deadlines — these cycles including the Broncos declining a 49ers third-round pick — to one the Broncos are again ready to build around. After unloading Jerry Jeudy and Tim Patrick last year, Denver has Sutton still in place from the John Elway era. While Jeudy did re-emerge (particularly in a monster revenge performance in Denver) with a solid season after being traded, the Broncos saw Sutton post 1,081 receiving yards and eight TDs in 2024. The 6-foot-4 target played the lead role in Nix throwing the second-most TD passes (29) by a rookie in NFL history.

Among active WR deals, Sutton ranks 22nd in AAV. He is due a nonguaranteed $13.5MM, an amount Sutton and his agent have informed the Broncos (via Klis) will be untenable for 2025. While the Broncos have some time to resolve this matter, augmenting their skill-position corps around their WR1 will be a near-future task.

Even if the seven-year vet is retained on a deal more in line with today’s market, the Broncos have questions at receiver. Two-for-two in first-team All-Pro nods as a return man, Marvin Mims has slowly made progress on offense. The team also saw sporadic production from rookies Devaughn Vele and Troy Franklin, but it can be argued the Broncos are in need of another piece. Payton, however, pointed to a tight end being a higher priority compared to receiver. Today brought more in that direction.

The Broncos are not believed to be interested in Cooper Kupp or Deebo Samuel in trades, the Denver Post’s Troy Renck adds. Both NFC West standouts are not expected back with their respective teams, but the Rams and 49ers also have been linked to potentially cutting the All-Pros. This would open the door for receiver-needy teams and potentially affect the lot of veteran free agents at the position.

Samuel would be closer to what Payton seeks in his perpetual quest to add a “joker” performer to his offense. Denver lacked reliable pass catchers at running back and tight end last season. Samuel profiles as an inside playmaker, albeit an injury-prone one coming off a down season. He amassed just 670 receiving yards in 15 games and has frequently battled short-term injuries; a more serious Jones fracture is also on Samuel’s medical sheet. Making his name as a slot ace, Kupp has also seen injuries hamper him since his triple-crown season in 2021.

Options will be available to the Broncos in free agency, as Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs and Keenan Allen are all high-end route runners out of contract. Diontae Johnson also profiles as such, but he burned plenty of bridges (while torpedoing his value) during a turbulent 2024. The draft will also be an avenue for the Broncos to add a piece at receiver, as the team searches for RB and TE upgrades as well.

49ers Re-Sign OL Ben Bartch

February 24th, 2025 at 8:02pm CST by Ben Levine

The 49ers aren’t letting Ben Bartch hit free agency. The team announced that they’ve re-signed the offensive lineman. It’s a one-year deal for Bartch.

A former fourth-round pick by the Jaguars, Bartch got into 41 games across three-plus seasons in Jacksonville. He landed with the 49ers midway through the 2023 campaign and has spent the past-year plus with the organization.

After getting into five games down the stretch with the 49ers in 2023 (plus another three playoff appearances), Bartch was limited to only three games (two starts) in 2024. He fared well in his brief look last year, allowing only one pressure in 65 offensive snaps. He likely would have been in line for more playing time during the final month of the season, but the lineman was sidelined thanks to a high ankle sprain.

With Aaron Banks also set to hit free agency, Bartch does provide the 49ers with some continuity at left guard. Depending on how the offseason plays out, the veteran could actually be penciled in atop the depth chart heading into the 2025 season.

49ers WR Deebo Samuel Worth Day 3 Pick?

February 21st, 2025 at 10:04pm CST by Ely Allen

The 49ers-Deebo Samuel road has been a rocky one for some time now. After a hold-in led to a new deal in 2022, it didn’t take long for trade talks to circulate involving one (and eventually both) of the team’s top wide receivers. The veteran weapon was not moved, in part due to the 49ers’ lack of satisfaction with the offers that were coming in for him, and this offseason doesn’t appear likely to bring in bigger offers.

During an appearance on The John Keim Report, ESPN’s Nick Wagoner gave his opinion on Samuel’s trade value in 2025. He reminded us that, last year, it was teammate Brandon Aiyuk who was getting the Round 1 and 2 offers that San Francisco was hoping to get for Samuel. Samuel, on the other hand, was receiving interest from teams with late-Day 2 offers or worse. This offseason, Wagoner predicts that the offers will all be picks from Day 3 of the draft.

Part of that is due to performance and health issues from Samuel since his extension was signed. Another part of it is the publicity of the situation. As Wagoner states, the 49ers are dead set on moving on from Samuel, and Samuel is dead set on moving on from the 49ers, and the whole of the NFL world knows this. This total transparency doesn’t give either side much bargaining power over a new team interested in acquiring Samuel’s talents.

Michael David Smith of NBC Sports goes as far as to say that, though many teams appear to be interested in Samuel, their pursuit may not come via trade offers. Smith indicates that teams could continue to lowball the 49ers with their trade offers knowing that the 49ers could cut Samuel if they can’t work out a trade. At that point, Samuel’s free agency would become fair game for everyone.

This decision by San Francisco would likely need to occur by March 22. That day, a month from now, is the date on which the team would owe Samuel a $15.4MM option bonus if he’s still on the roster. If the 49ers can’t work out a trade by then, it seems extremely likely that they would cut Samuel, knowing that both sides are dead set on moving on from each other. Opposing teams seeking to acquire the 29-year-old would then just need to wait the 49ers out in order to avoid spending draft capital in securing Samuel’s services.

Bengals Release DT Sheldon Rankins

February 21st, 2025 at 5:55pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Bengals have released veteran defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, per a team announcement. Rankins was an expected cap casualty after missing most of the 2024 season.

He signed with the Bengals on a two-year, $24.5MM deal last March and started the first two games of the regular season before suffering a hamstring injury that sidelined him for three games. He returned in Week 6 and started Cincinnati’s next five games before coming down with a viral illness ahead of Week 11.

Details of the illness were not disclosed during the season, but it was revealed by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that Rankins was battling viral meningitis. He was inactive for the next six games before landing on the non-football injury list to end the year. Rankins finished the season with 18 tackles (one for loss) and one sack, the latter being the lowest total of his career.

Cutting Rankins saves $9.6MM against the 2025 salary cap with $2MM in dead money, bringing the Bengals up to $62MM in salary cap space, per Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap. That will leave them with more than enough room to absorb an expected franchise tag for Tee Higgins and a lucrative extension for Ja’Marr Chase while still making much-needed improvements to their bottom-10 defense.

Teams will likely inquire about Rankins’ health before pursuing him in free agency. He joins a crowded defensive tackle market in which pass-rush upside will be prioritized.

The Texans were interested in re-signing Rankins last year after he recorded 6.0 sacks in Houston in 2023 and could renew their pursuit. He could also receive interest from the 49ers given his connection with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and the team’s need along the interior of their defensive line, according to the Bay Area News Group’s Cam Inman. Rankins played under new Bears DC Dennis Allen in New Orleans and could seek a reunion in Chicago.

However, the former first-round pick will be 31 when the 2025 season starts, likely putting him on the back end of his career. Rather than another multi-year contract, Rankins may have to accept a one-year deal to prove his health and rebuild his value this season.

Jon Feliciano Intends To Retire; OL Open To Midseason Return

February 20th, 2025 at 9:50am CST by Adam La Rose

After being unable to play in 2024, Jon Feliciano is set to end his career. The veteran offensive lineman announced on Thursday that he is hanging up his cleats (albeit with a caveat).

Feliciano was with the Raiders from 2015-18, and his first trip to free agency saw him sign with the Bills. The former fourth-rounder operated as a full-time starter during his three Buffalo seasons, although each of the latter two saw him limited to just nine games. A single campaign with the Giants was followed by Feliciano playing for the 49ers in 2023.

The Miami product made 15 appearances and seven starts for San Francisco that season, but a knee injury suffered during training camp this past summer made he clear he would not be able to suit up at the beginning of the 2024 campaign. The rehab process did not go according to plan, and in November Feliciano was shut down for the year. While he is leaving the door open to a return late in 2025, he is now mainly turning his attention to his post-playing days as a result.

After months of weighing my options, I realized I had to leave the game,” Feliciano’s announcement reads in part. “The fire is still there, but I know I can’t last a full season and can’t bring myself to let people down… That being said, Buffalo or [San Francisco], I’ll be ready for a playoff run in December if you need me.”

The Bills’ O-line has been one of the league’s best over the past two yeas, and none of their starters are pending free agents. The 49ers, by contrast, could be in the market for interior additions during the offseason and underwhelming play from that unit (or injuries, of course) could leave the door open to a Feliciano signing. For now, though, it can be assumed he has played his last snap in the NFL.

The 33-year-old has amassed 125 combined regular and postseason appearances during his career, with 70 of those being starts. Feliciano has earned nearly $24MM to date, and that figure could still increase if he winds up signing with the Bills or 49ers late next season. Failing that, however, he will close the book on his NFL tenure.

NFC West Coaching Updates: Cardinals, Scheelhaase, 49ers

February 18th, 2025 at 10:01pm CST by Ely Allen

The Cardinals are not one of the teams to hire a new head coach this offseason, necessitating the hiring of a new surrounding staff, but they still made a few updates this offseason. For instance, we’ve already reported on the hirings of offensive line coach Justin Frye, defensive line coach Winston DeLattiboudere, and linebackers coach Cristian Garcia.

In addition to those, Matt Feeney was hired as outside linebackers coach after three years in Las Vegas, the most recent of which he spent as assistant defensive backs coach after two years as a defensive quality control coach. Alec Osborne joins Feeney as a new hire and will serve as a defensive quality control coach.

Arizona also announced two internal promotions. After working as assistant quarterbacks coach this year and an offensive quality control coach before that, Conner Senger has been promoted to pass game specialist. Lastly, Blaine Gautier, who served two seasons as the Bill Bidwill Coaching Fellow, will now work as an offensive quality control coach in 2025.

Here are a couple other coaching updates out of the NFC West:

  • Rams pass game specialist Nate Scheelhaase interviewed for both the Buccaneers’ and Jaguars’ offensive coordinator jobs this hiring cycle and was even considered a favorite for the job in Jacksonville before it was announced that he would stay in Los Angeles. Perhaps a reward for staying but certainly in recognition of the interest he sparked around the league, the Rams have promoted Scheelhaase to passing game coordinator, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. He’ll continue to learn under head coach Sean McVay with increased responsibilities in 2025.
  • Lastly, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, the 49ers have a new cornerbacks coach in Ray Brown. Brown most recently spent the 2024 season as the secondary coach at Boston College after a two-year stint coaching cornerbacks at Washington State.

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 2/18/25

February 18th, 2025 at 8:24pm CST by Ely Allen

Tuesday’s free agent tender decisions:

ERFAs

Tendered:

The 49ers made the decision today to tender all of their exclusive rights free agents today. The move restricts the seven players from negotiating with other teams. The players will have the choice to accept the offer and play for the 49ers or not play football in 2025.

San Francisco also has two restricted free agents: linebacker Curtis Robinson and running back Jordan Mason. It is yet to be seen what the team will do with those players who, if tendered, would be allowed to negotiate with other teams but would have to give the 49ers the chance to match any offer.

Minor NFL Transactions: 2/18/25

February 18th, 2025 at 7:37pm CST by Ely Allen

We had a number of minor moves today in the NFL:

Cleveland Browns

Las Vegas Raiders

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Saints Interviewing Two DC Candidates, Doug Nussmeier Today

February 16th, 2025 at 4:18pm CST by Ely Allen

4:18pm: Nussmeier’s interview will also take place today, Rapoport notes. As the Saints continue to move through their coordinator search process, a hire on both fronts could be made sometime in the coming days depending on how wide of a net the team casts.

12:20pm: The Saints and new head coach Kellen Moore continue to search for his first coordinators in New Orleans. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated tells us that the team will interview 49ers assistant head coach Brandon Staley and Eagles passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach Christian Parker for the defensive coordinator position today. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds that Eagles quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier will interview for the offensive coordinator role this week.

Staley and Nussmeier have both already been mentioned as potential candidates for the two respective jobs. Staley was Moore’s boss in 2023 when the former served as the Chargers’ head coach. Staley was fired by the Chargers following two-plus seasons with the organization. He finished his head coaching stint with a 24-24 record, including a single one-and-done playoff appearance. Prior to his stint with the Chargers, Staley served as the defensive coordinator with the Rams in 2020. He also previously served as linebackers coach for the Broncos and Bears. Though Staley didn’t interview for any other defensive coordinator jobs this offseason, he was mentioned as a candidate for the role with his current team.

Nussmeier and Moore coached together in Dallas from 2018-22, with the former moving from tight ends coach to quarterbacks coach during that span. Moore brought Nussmeier with him to Los Angeles when he took over as Chargers offensive coordinator under Staley in 2023. That stint did not go especially well, but the Eagles allowed Moore to bring Nussmeier alongside him to Philadelphia, where Jalen Hurts led the team to a Super Bowl title. Before their time together in Dallas, Nussmeier served as an offensive coordinator for five college programs — including Alabama, Michigan, and Florida — from 2008-17.

Aside from his connections to Moore, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler points out that Nussmeier also has a familial connection to Louisiana. Nussmeier’s son, Garrett Nussmeier, is set to enter his second year as the starting quarterback at LSU in relatively nearby Baton Rouge. After finishing fifth in the nation in passing yards per game for the Tigers in 2024, Garrett is considered a top prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft. There is one more connection, as well, as the elder Nussmeier’s only two years as an NFL quarterback saw him play in New Orleans.

Parker, 33, interviewed for the Patriots and Packers’ DC jobs last offseason, but likely due to the Eagles’ deep playoff run, he didn’t attend any interviews in this cycle. Before heading to Philadelphia last year, he was a valued staffer in Denver, working in the same defensive backs coaching role under Vic Fangio, Nathaniel Hackett, and Sean Payton. In Denver, Parker oversaw the likes of Justin Simmons and Patrick Surtain. In Philadelphia, Parker mentored a defense that allowed the fewest passing yards in the NFL last year due in part to rookie cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, who finished second and fourth, respectively, in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.

Here is how the offensive coordinator search is shaping up so far:

And here’s a look at the defensive coordinator search:

  • George Edwards, outside linebackers coach (Buccaneers): Mentioned as candidate
  • Daronte Jones, defensive pass-game coordinator (Vikings): To interview 1/15
  • Christian Parker, passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach (Eagles): Interviewed 2/16
  • Brandon Staley, assistant head coach (49ers): Lead candidate?; Interviewed 2/16
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