Fangio won’t join Harbaugh
On Sunday, Jim Harbaugh declined to say which of his assistant coaches could be following him to the University of Michigan, but here’s one who won’t be making the trip to Ann Arbor: Vic Fangio.
The 49ers’ defensive coordinator, who spent 2010 with Harbaugh at Stanford, won’t remain with Harbaugh in 2015, a source said.
It’s possible Fangio will be a viable candidate for Harbaugh’s just-vacated job. Fangio and defensive line coach Jim Tomsula are viewed as logical in-house candidates for the opening, although the 49ers are expected to cast a wide net in their search.
Fangio, 56, who just finished his 28th NFL season, has expressed his desire to be the 49ers’ next head coach to the front office. He bolstered his candidacy this season as the 49ers entered Sunday’s 20-17 win over Arizona with the NFL’s fifthranked defense despite placing seven defensive players on injured reserve since the start of the regular season.
Meanwhile, Tomsula, 46, who joined the 49ers in 2007, is the longesttenured member of the staff and is one of the league’s most respected defensive line coaches. He has a 1-0 career record: He was named the interim head coach when Mike Singletary was fired with one game left in the 2010 season.
CEO Jed York and general manager Trent Baalke will address the media regarding the 49ers’ coaching search at 1 p.m. Monday.
Justin Smith’s future: Justin Smith’s justcompleted 14th NFL season could be his last.
The All-Pro defensive tackle said this month that he will consider retirement, and that now appears likely. Smith, 35, is strongly leaning toward leaving the 49ers with one year remaining on his contract, NFL Network reported during Sunday’s game.
Linebacker Dan Skuta acknowledged Smith’s uncertain future.
“I’m still going to be upset about the year, but I’m excited for Justin Smith and any other guy that might not be here next year,” Skuta said. “I’m excited that they got to go out on a win. Might be Justin’s last game ever, so just excited for him and happy for this team that we could go out on a good note.”
Smith, who didn’t have a tackle Sunday, declined to speak to reporters. He said he will address the media Monday. Schedule set: The two blanks on the 2015 schedule were filled as the 49ers discovered which team from the NFC East and NFC South they’ll face. The 49ers finished third in the NFC West, meaning they’ll visit the Giants (third place NFC East) and host Atlanta (third place NFC South) next season.
At home, the 49ers also will face: Baltimore, Cincinnati, Green Bay, Minnesota, Arizona, St. Louis and Seattle. On the road, they also will meet: Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Arizona, St. Louis and Seattle.