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San Francisco 49ers News & Rumors

Minor NFL Transactions: 2/28/23

February 28th, 2023 at 8:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:

Houston Texans

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Washington Commanders

Jennings will be back with the 49ers in 2023. As an ERFA, the former seventh-round pick had limited options. Jennings, who caught 35 passes for 416 yards last season, entered the league as a 2020 draftee but did not play that season. The 49ers will have the option of keeping the young wide receiver through the 2024 campaign; Jennings will be eligible for restricted free agency next year.

2023 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

February 28th, 2023 at 2:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the head coaching carousel spun for several weeks, many teams made coordinator changes as well. Teams seeking new head coaches are conducting OC and DC searches, and a handful of other teams that did not make HC changes are also searching for top assistants.

This is a big year for offensive coordinator hires, with nearly half the league making changes. Here are the teams searching for new OCs and DCs. As new searches emerge, they will be added to the list.

Updated 3-1-23 (3:31pm CT)

Offensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals 

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Greg Roman)

Carolina Panthers (Out: Ben McAdoo)

  • Thomas Brown, tight ends coach, (Rams): Hired
  • Jim Bob Cooter, passing-game coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Kellen Moore)

  • Brian Angelichio, tight ends coach (Vikings): Interviewed 2/2
  • Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Rams): Interviewed
  • Jeff Nixon, running backs coach (Panthers): Interviewed
  • Brian Schottenheimer, offensive consultant (Cowboys): Hired

Denver Broncos (Out: Justin Outten)

Houston Texans (Out: Pep Hamilton)

Indianapolis Colts (Out: Parks Frazier)

  • Jim Bob Cooter, passing-game coordinator (Jaguars): Hired
  • Tee Martin, wide receivers coach (Ravens): Interview requested

Kansas City Chiefs (Out: Eric Bieniemy)

  • Matt Nagy, quarterbacks coach (Chiefs): Hired

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Joe Lombardi)

Los Angeles Rams (Out: Liam Coen)

New York Jets (Out: Mike LaFleur)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Shane Steichen)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Byron Leftwich)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Todd Downing)

Washington Commanders (Out: Scott Turner)

Defensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals (Out: Vance Joseph)

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Dean Pees)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Leslie Frazier)

Carolina Panthers (Out: Al Holcomb)

  • Ejiro Evero, former defensive coordinator (Broncos): Hired
  • Vic Fangio, former head coach (Broncos): Interviewed
  • Marquand Manuel, safeties coach (Jets): Interviewed
  • Kris Richard, co-defensive coordinator (Saints): Interviewed

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans 

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Renaldo Hill)

  • Derrick Ansley, defensive backs coach (Chargers): Promoted
  • Doug Belk, defensive coordinator (Houston): Interviewed
  • DeMarcus Covington, defensive line coach (Patriots): Interviewed

Miami Dolphins (Out: Josh Boyer)

Minnesota Vikings (Out: Ed Donatell)

New Orleans Saints (Out: Ryan Nielsen, Kris Richard)

  • Joe Woods, former defensive coordinator (Browns): Hired

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Jonathan Gannon)

San Francisco 49ers (Out: DeMeco Ryans)

  • Vic Fangio, former head coach (Broncos): On radar
  • Chris Harris, defensive backs coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/31
  • Kris Kocurek, defensive line coach (49ers): On radar
  • Steve Wilks, former interim head coach (Panthers): Hired

49ers Re-Sign LS Taybor Pepper

February 25th, 2023 at 8:01pm CST by Adam La Rose

Two years ago, the 49ers retained long snapper Taybor Pepper in time to prevent him from hitting the open market. They have done the same again this offseason.

Pepper announced that he has signed a three-year deal to remain in San Francisco (video link). That will keep him on the books through 2025, since he was a pending free agent. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that this contract includes $1.5MM guaranteed at signing.

“Faithful, thank you for the past three years,” Pepper’s announcement states. “I can’t even begin to tell you what this place means to me. In life, some chapters are meant to close… but this one ain’t over yet.”

The 29-year-old began began his career with the Packers in 2017, but spent only one year there. He then played in Miami in 2019, in what amounted to another one-and-done campaign. He headed to the Bay Area in September of 2020, playing in the team’s final 12 games of that season. His performance during that time earned him a two-year, $2.08MM deal.

The Michigan State product has been the 49ers’ full-time snapper since then, and will now double the length of his stay with the team. San Francisco also has punter Mitch Wishnowsky under contract through 2026, giving them continuity for at least two-thirds of their special teams battery. Kicker Robbie Gould is a pending free agent, though he has made it clear that he intends to continue his playing career. Attention can now turn to retaining the latter as the 49ers aim to keep as many contributors to their recent success as possible.

Brock Purdy Plans To Undergo UCL Surgery

February 21st, 2023 at 9:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

FEBRUARY 21: The surgery will not happen Wednesday, with Tom Pelissero of NFL.com noting a slight complication will lead to a postponement. Inflammation in Purdy’s elbow prompted Meister to table the operation to early March (Twitter link). Purdy still could undergo a more invasive procedure, but Pelissero notes the plan remains for him to be ready by Week 1. Given the recovery timetable here, any delay would cut that pretty close.

FEBRUARY 9: Purdy clarified he is not out of the woods regarding a reconstructive procedure. The 49ers quarterback said Thursday that Meister may determine mid-surgery elbow reconstruction — or Tommy John surgery — is necessary.

“He’s done this year after year with the best of the best with MLB pitchers. So he’s definitely seen this kind of thing happen, and he’s going to make the best call, and not just for the heck of it,” Purdy said during a KNBR interview (via 49ersWebZone.com). “It’s obviously for the best call for my career moving forward. And he knows what’s best, and he’s going to make the best decision for us, so it’ll be good.”

Should Purdy only need the internal brace procedure, he said three months will be the goal for a throwing program to begin. While six months remains the goal, a more invasive surgery would almost definitely threaten his availability for the start of the 2023 season.

FEBRUARY 8: After considering options, Brock Purdy is likely to undergo surgery to repair his injured elbow soon. The 49ers quarterback is expected to go under the knife in two weeks.

Purdy will meet with a Dallas-based doctor on Feb. 21, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, who notes (via Twitter) the rookie sensation is on track to undergo UCL surgery on Feb. 22. It does not appear Tommy John surgery is on tap. Purdy is expected to recover in advance of training camp, Rapoport adds.

This stands to mean the previously rumored internal brace surgery will be the seventh-round pick’s course of action. If that is the case, Purdy could be ready to throw in a few months. A Tommy John procedure would knock him out for much longer, though it would not sideline Purdy as long as it does MLB pitchers. Dr. Keith Meister, the Texas Rangers’ team doctor, is on track to perform the surgery.

Purdy, however, might not be full go until the end of the preseason. He and the 49ers discussed a six-month recovery timetable, Matt Barrows of The Athletic tweets. With the surgery coming in two weeks, following that timeline extends to the close of the August slate. That will be cutting it pretty close for Purdy’s regular-season availability. Though, a more accurate timetable will come to light after the operation.

Purdy’s UCL tear harpooned the 49ers’ Super Bowl hopes early in the NFC championship game, and his upcoming absence will cloud the team’s 2023 QB situation. Trey Lance, however, expects to be 100% by OTAs in April. The former No. 3 overall pick would be in position to accumulate valuable reps while Purdy recovers, but if last year’s No. 262 overall selection is healthy, the 49ers are not believed to view this as a quarterback controversy-in-waiting. Purdy is expected to be the team’s 2023 starter.

Then again, Jimmy Garoppolo‘s 2022 shows the trouble with early predictions for 49ers quarterback situations. Garoppolo went from the 49ers’ unquestioned starter to a player they openly tried to trade to Lance insurance to being needed for another QB1 run. Another 49ers-Garoppolo deal became a possibility, but the veteran’s broken foot — leading to Purdy’s rapid emergence — scuttled that path. Kyle Shanahan said he does not expect the team to revisit another Garoppolo deal. That will leave Purdy and Lance for 2023. If Lance — San Francisco’s Week 1 starter this past season — loses the job to a former lowly regarded prospect, trade rumors will certainly come up.

The 49ers are not planning to pursue a veteran backup option, which would leave the loser of a Purdy-Lance competition as the 2023 backup. Considering the injuries both players suffered, the NFC West champions having both back to start training camp would represent a fortunate development after this malady-defined QB season.

49ers Unlikely To Exercise DT Javon Kinlaw’s Fifth-Year Option

February 19th, 2023 at 1:04pm CST by Rory Parks

The 49ers are unlikely to exercise DT Javon Kinlaw‘s fifth-year option, as Matt Barrows of The Athletic writes (subscription required). Given that Kinlaw has played in just 10 regular season games over the past two seasons, that should be a fairly easy call for GM John Lynch.

Drafted in 2020 with the No. 14 overall selection — the pick that the 49ers acquired from the Colts in the DeForest Buckner trade — Kinlaw has battled intermittent knee trouble since his college days. He appeared in 14 games (12 starts) in his rookie season, but he played in just four contests in 2021 before undergoing season-ending knee surgery (which was later reported to be an ACL reconstruction).

Kinlaw, 25, opened the 2022 campaign as a starting defensive tackle alongside Arik Armstead, but he played just three games before more knee problems landed him on IR. He returned for the final three games of the regular season and started all three of San Francisco’s playoff contests, though his performance left much to be desired. Pro Football Focus assigned him an abysmal 36.7 run defense grade, and he also failed to replicate the interior pass rush presence that D.J. Jones offered before he signed with the Broncos last offseason. All things considered, then, it makes sense that the club would decline the chance to lock Kinlaw into a fully-guaranteed $10.5MM salary for 2024.

Kinlaw will, at least, get one more chance to rebuild his stock before hitting the open market. 10 of the 14 defensive linemen who played a snap for the Niners in 2022 are currently out of contract, and cutting Kinlaw would not result in any cap relief. Still, the club will probably search for DT reinforcements, as Kinlaw was hardly a world-beater even when he was mostly available as a rookie. Legal issues aside, Lynch could look to re-sign Charles Omenihu, though he may be too expensive to retain — PFF estimates a contract featuring a $9MM AAV — and Barrows says the team may want more of a run-stuffer anyway when it comes to DT options.

Lynch may also be on the hunt for DE upgrades. With Nick Bosa on one side of the line, San Francisco reportedly feels as if it should have a more elite edge rush, so the team could look to move on from Samson Ebukam and target a player like Yannick Ngakoue or Marcus Davenport, or it could consider a trade. Of course, the team is presently without a first- or second-round pick in the 2023 draft and does not have a ton of salary cap space, so it will be difficult to make too many high-end acquisitions. The 49ers will also hope that 2022 second-rounder Drake Jackson, who flashed as a rookie despite being a healthy scratch in five of the last six games of the season, will take a step forward.

Latest On 49ers, Jimmy Garoppolo

February 18th, 2023 at 7:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 49ers endured one of the more bizarre situations under center in 2022, highlighted by their ability to qualify for the NFC title game despite major injuries being suffered by each of their top three quarterbacks. That leaves their outlook heading into the offseason rather cloudy, with the likely exception of Jimmy Garoppolo.

The veteran was long thought to be on his way out of the Bay Area last offseason, with Trey Lance formally named the team’s starter moving forward. Garoppolo’s offseason shoulder surgery complicated a potential acquisition, though, and he remained in the Bay Area on a re-worked contract. That proved to be a wise move for both parties, after Lance’s ankle injury thrust Garoppolo back into the starter’s role.

The 31-year-old won seven of his 10 starts this year, helping keep the team stay consistent on offense. Garoppolo played himself into consideration for another 49ers pact, but he suffered yet another major injury which kept him sidelined for the stretch run and postseason. In no small part because of that, he is expected to depart in free agency this time around.

Garoppolo has long been considered one of the league’s best locker room presences and a team-friendly passer to build around. However, the tone struck by head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch during the team’s season-ending media availabilities pointed to tension between themselves and the former Patriots second-rounder. Indeed, Tim Kawakami of The Athletic notes that the relationship between Garoppolo and San Francisco’s brain trust “seems to have gone a bit south” in the time leading up to the NFC championship game (subscription required).

A Garoppolo return was at one point thought to be in play before the 49ers’ loss to the Eagles, but the Super Bowl was understood to be the earliest point at which he realistically would have been able to suit up. That scenario never developed, with rookie sensation Brock Purdy and emergency backup Josh Johnson each suffering injuries in the NFC title game. Kawakami adds that he isn’t aware of a singular incident which led to a cooling of relations around Garoppolo, but the latter’s presence in 2023 would no doubt complicate the situation with Lance and Purdy.

Given the current QB landscape in the NFL, Garoppolo is likely to have no shortage of suitors. The Jets – who have been connected countless times to a potential Aaron Rodgers trade and recently met with free agent Derek Carr – have reportedly done homework on him. Given his background in the Bay Area, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo names the Texans (now led by HC DeMeco Ryans) as another squad to watch (video link). He adds the Titans, Raiders and Buccaneers to the list of potential destinations for Garoppolo, who will become increasingly sought-after if the likes of Lamar Jackson, Daniel Jones and Geno Smith play on the franchise tag.

Garoppolo’s impressive win-loss record in San Francisco is weighed down by his myriad of injury troubles, but leaving the team on a relatively sour note would represent an underwhelming end to his tenure there. He figures to have plenty of options with respect to his next chapter, however.

C Jake Brendel Eager To Test Free Agency, Wants To Stay With 49ers

February 18th, 2023 at 4:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following Alex Mack‘s retirement, the 49ers hatched an unusual plan at center. Rather than pursuing some notable names on the market, they entrusted the pivot to a veteran severely lacking in experience. Jake Brendel ended up starting all 20 49ers games, providing some stability for a young interior offensive line.

The 49ers will need to give Brendel a raise or plan for another option in 2023. Brendel is now on track for free agency. While the veteran blocker had made three starts in a six-year career coming into 2022, his services should now generate some interest on the market.

Like Mike McGlinchey, Brendel wants to stick around in San Francisco. He has been with the team for three seasons now, signing in February 2020. But the former Dolphins and Ravens backup is preparing for his age-31 season in 2023, highlighting this free agency as perhaps his only shot at a notable NFL payday. Brendel collected a veteran-minimum salary in 2022.

“The collective shows that, but also the individual numbers were on par, if not better, than half of the league,” Brendel said (via NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco) when asked if he had proven himself as a starter. “I just feel it’s something that’s going to be advantageous in free agency. I can definitely build off of and I feel there are some promising stuff on film that other teams are going to see how well I can play when I get the opportunity.

“This place is special; Kyle Shanahan’s offense is special. [Offensive line] coach [Chris] Foerster is a guy I want to be around in the future, but it’s got to make sense financially and professionally for my family.”

Despite his extended run as a backup or non-active-roster player, Brendel allowed just one sack in his 20-start season. Pro Football Focus rated the former UDFA as the league’s No. 20 overall center, though the advanced metrics site slotted him in the top 10 for pass blocking. But center-needy teams figure to have options come March. Connor McGovern, Garrett Bradbury, Bradley Bozeman and Ethan Pocic are close to hitting the market.

The 49ers may not be able to afford McGlinchey, who after bouncing back from his 2021 quad injury should be able to command a top-tier right tackle contract. The team already has left tackle Trent Williams attached to the most lucrative O-line accord; Brendel should be more affordable. A team set to move on from Jimmy Garoppolo‘s contract and roll out a payroll featuring two rookie quarterback deals will be able to afford a few more veteran payments. Of course, the 49ers have already doled out some over the past two offseasons.

In addition to Williams, the 49ers gave Fred Warner a then-market-setting pact in 2021. They extended Deebo Samuel and Dre Greenlaw in 2022. It will be Nick Bosa‘s turn this year, and $30MM per year may be the reigning Defensive Player of the Year’s baseline. George Kittle remains attached to a $15MM-per-year contract.

Both Brendel and interior swingman Daniel Brunskill are close to free agency. Whichever player is brought back, per The Athletic’s Matt Barrows, will likely be ticketed to start at center in 2023 (subscription required). This points to an either/or situation, per Barrows, with Brunskill having been a right guard starter from 2020-21. Guards Aaron Banks and Spencer Burford are on rookie contracts.

49ers To Add Klint Kubiak To Staff

February 16th, 2023 at 6:48pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 49ers have lost several assistant coaches in recent days with DeMeco Ryans becoming the new head coach of the Texans. Among the brain drain the team has endured is the departure of Bobby Slowik, who recently became Houston’s offensive coordinator.

San Francisco has found his replacement in the form of Klint Kubiak. The 49ers are adding him to their offensive staff in an unnamed role, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter link). Slowik held the titles of passing game specialist and passing game coordinator over the past two seasons, so something similar can be expected for Kubiak, who has found his next NFL employer after a one-year stint in Denver.

The 35-year-old served as the Broncos’ QBs coach and passing game coordinator for much of the year. In the wake of the team’s unexpected offensive struggles under head coach Nathaniel Hackett, however, Kubiak was given play-calling duties in November. That setup changed for the final two weeks of the season, when OC Justin Outten guided the offense following Hackett’s firing.

The latter two staffers have already landed new gigs, with Hackett and Outten being hired by the Jets and Titans, respectively. This 49ers posting comes after Kubiak also drew interest from a number of outside teams. He interviewed with the Jets and Buccaneers for their OC vacancies, but will take on a coveted role in the Bay Area. The 49ers have enjoyed plenty of success on offense under Kyle Shanahan, and Kubiak will now have a hand in the team’s performance on that side of the ball in 2023.

Kubiak was also in discussion with the Texans prior to joining the 49ers, reports Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 (on Twitter). By heading to San Francisco, the one-time Vikings OC will be able to work alongside his brother Klay; the latter son of Gary Kubiak currently works as the Niners’ assistant QBs coach. Klint will have a steep challenge in terms of replicating the team’s success on offense in 2022 despite needing to go four-deep on their quarterback depth chart at one point, but doing so could further boost his rising stock around the league.

Texans Expected To Hire Cory Undlin; Team Will Not Retain Pep Hamilton, Others

February 14th, 2023 at 4:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

Former Lions defensive coordinator and two-year DeMeco Ryans lieutenant with the 49ers, Cory Undlin will come over from San Francisco to join Ryans’ staff in Houston. The Texans plan to hire the veteran NFL assistant, Aaron Wilson of KPRC reports.

Previous reports pegged the Texans as interested, and Wilson notes the team intends to hire Undlin as its secondary coach and defensive passing-game coordinator. Undlin spent the past two seasons as the 49ers’ secondary coach; his contract expired after the 2022 season. He is the latest 49ers assistant to join Ryans’ Texans staff.

That staff will not include Pep Hamilton or offensive line coach George Warhop, per Wilson. The Texans retained special teams coordinator Frank Ross, who was a David Culley hire and former Nick Caserio Patriots coworker, but they will have new coordinators (Bobby Slowik, Matt Burke). While Hamilton stayed on under Lovie Smith under a different position, moving from quarterbacks coach to OC, he is out in Houston after two seasons. Warhop joined the Texans last year.

A two-time NFL OC, Hamilton, 48, turned down the opportunity to interview for the Buccaneers’ play-calling post. It will be interesting to see where the ex-Colts play-caller lands. For a second straight season, the Texans finished 30th or worse in both scoring and total offense. While the Texans were not exactly equipped with many notable starters, the team’s struggles helped key another shakeup.

Warhop, 61, has been an offensive line coach in the NFL since 1996. The Texans are eyeing former Colts O-line coach Chris Strausser for the job, Wilson notes, adding the team is also eyeing current Browns defensive line coach Chris Kiffin as well. A Frank Reich hire in Indianapolis, Strausser coached the Colts’ O-line for the past four seasons. Although that unit produced three Pro Bowlers at various points, it regressed in 2022. Kiffin has been with the Browns since 2020 but has interest in joining the Texans. The second-generation NFL coach was on the 49ers’ staff from 2018-19, serving as San Francisco’s pass rush specialist.

Undlin, 51, checks both boxes for the current Texans, having worked with both Ryans and Caserio. Undlin collected a Super Bowl ring in his first NFL season, working as a low-level assistant in New England in 2004, and was the Eagles’ DBs coach during their Super Bowl LII-winning season. His Lions DC stay under Matt Patricia lasted one season (2020).

Ryans has now added Undlin, Slowik, Stephen Adegoke (safeties) and Nick Kray from the 49ers. An effort to poach defensive line coach Kris Kocurek failed. Ryans’ staff will also not include tight ends coach Tim Berbenich, assistant D-line coach Kenyon Jackson, quarterbacks coach Ted White, linebackers coach Miles Smith and select other staffers, Wilson adds. This is not exactly surprising, given the Texans’ struggles and six-year commitment to Ryans.

2023 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker

February 14th, 2023 at 1:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Last year, 10 NFL teams hired new head coaches. Following the Panthers, Broncos and Texans’ hires, this year’s vacancy count sits at two. Last year’s Saints and Buccaneers moves, however, showed these job openings can emerge at unexpected points.

Listed below are the head coaching candidates that have been linked to each of the teams with vacancies, along with their current status. If other teams decide to make head coaching changes, they’ll be added to this list. Here is the current breakdown:

Updated 2-14-23 (1:30pm CT)

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

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