Front-runner for Niners job: Shanahan
Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan appears to be the front-runner for the vacant 49ers head coaching job after Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels pulled out of the running.
The San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News reported yesterday that Shanahan now is the top candidate. Shanahan interviewed with the 49ers in the Atlanta area two weekends ago, when NFL rules allowed him to do so because the Falcons had a bye week for the wild card round of the playoffs.
The Falcons beat the Seahawks to advance to Sunday’s NFC title game against the Packers. By league rule, Shanahan isn’t allowed to have contact with the 49ers until after that game.
The Mercury News reported that Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable is the only other available candidate to interview with the 49ers.
Shanahan has never been a head coach but his work with the Falcons this season made him an attractive candidate. He also interviewed with the Broncos and Jaguars before both teams hired other candidates.
After lackluster results in Shanahan’s first season, the Falcons set a franchise record for points this season.
As the search for San Francisco’s new coach narrowed, the 49ers added more candidates for their general manager vacancy.
CEO Jed York interviewed Seattle co-directors of player personnel Trent Kirchner and Scott Fitterer yesterday for the GM job previously held by Trent Baalke.
Sherman played hurt
Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman played the second half of the season with an injured knee, although he was never listed on any injury report.
Seattle coach Pete Carroll said Sherman had an MCL injury in his knee, similar to the ones suffered by quarterback Russell Wilson and wide receiver Tyler Lockett earlier in the season.
Carroll called the injury “significant” on his weekly radio show on KIRO-AM yesterday and expanded on the situation later in his endof-season news conference.
Carroll did not specify which knee Sherman injured and Sherman never appeared to miss any game time due to an injury in the latter half of the season.
Yet the disclosure raised questions of whether the Seahawks circumvented the NFL injury reporting policy. . . .
The New York Jets signed right guard Brian Winters to a four-year contract extension. Winters, who was scheduled to become a free agent in March, missed the last two games of the season with a shoulder injury.
’Skins eye Rob Ryan
The Washington Redskins have interviewed Rob Ryan for their defensive coordinator position. The team confirmed that the longtime NFL assistant interviewed. Ryan was most recently the Buffalo Bills’ assistant head coach/defense this past season under his brother Rex.
Ryan has been defensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints.
Former Jacksonville Jaguars coach Gus Bradley also interviewed to be the Redskins defensive coordinator.
Texans dump OC
Texans offensive coordinator George Godsey will not return next season. The team announced the move saying it and Godsey “have mutually agreed to part ways.” . . .
The Jacksonville Jaguars hired former Michigan standout Tyrone Wheatley as running backs coach. Wheatley spent the past two years coaching running backs at his alma mater. Before that, he spent five years working for new Jaguars coach Doug Marrone.
The Tennessee Titans hired Frisman Jackson as their new wide receivers coach and Craig Aukerman as assistant special teams coach.
In other Titans news, they signed cornerback Tye Smith to a futures contract.