Niners assistants set to interview for head coaching jobs
49ers coordinators Mike McDaniel and DeMeco Ryans are preparing to face the Packers on Saturday at Lambeau Field, but Green Bay isn’t the only team on their minds this week.
Ryans, 37, will spend part of today interviewing for the head coaching position with the Min- nesota Vikings while Mc- Daniel, 38, will interview for the head coaching po- sition with the Miami Dol- phins, according to reports from Sports Illustrated.
The interviews will take place over Zoom.
Ryans is in his first season as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator under Kyle Shanahan as he was promoted from inside the organization to replace Robert Saleh, who left the role to become the head coach of the New York Jets last offseason. The former NFL linebacker is in his fourth year with the organization as he previously served as the team’s inside linebackers coach before replacing Saleh.
McDaniel has spent most of his professional career alongside Shanahan as the duo worked together in Washington, Cleveland and Atlanta before McDaniel followed Shanahan to San Francisco to become the 49ers’ run game coordinator in 2017. After passing game coordinator Mike LaFleur followed Saleh to the Jets last winter, McDaniel was promoted to offensive coordinator, although Shanahan is still the 49ers’ play-caller.
The Vikings fired head coach Mike Zimmer after Minnesota finished 8-9 this season while the Dolphins fired head coach Brian Flores after Miami finished 9-8.
Under Ryans’ lead, the 49ers’ defense ranked third in yards allowed this season with an average of 310.0 yards per game and tied for ninth in points allowed with 21.5 per game. Ryans benefitted from having one of the NFL’s best pass rushers in Nick Bosa starring along his defensive front, but has had to scheme around a shaky secondary that lost veteran cornerback Jason Verrett to a season-ending ACL injury during the first week of the season.
Ryans received widespread praise for his work in crafting a successful game plan against the Dallas Cowboys as his unit helped the 49ers emerge as the only road team to win a playoff game during Wild Card Weekend.
If Ryans finds a way to shut down All-Pro Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams this week, it’s likely his head coaching stock will continue to rise, giving him more interviews to balance next week against prepping for the NFC Championship Game.
McDaniel began his NFL coaching career in 2005 as a Denver Broncos intern under Mike Shanahan and has gained a reputation as an innovative mind in developing the 49ers’ rushing attack.