Report: 49ers, Jackson talk
Bengals assistant also has interview with Cleveland.
Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson reportedly interviewed Sunday with the San Francisco 49ers regarding their head coaching vacancy.
Jackson met at length with the Niners in Cincinnati, according to The Associated Press, which said its source was speaking on condition of anonymity because the team isn’t announcing its candidates or interviews.
The former Oakland head coach also was set to meet the Browns, one day after Jackson’s Cincinnati team lost 18-16 to Pittsburgh in the playoffs.
On Saturday, San Fran- cisco interviewed Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter in Tampa, Florida. That’s after the 49ers interviewed fired Eagles coach Chip Kelly on Thursday.
The team appears ready to move quickly to hire a coach and find Jim Tomsula’s successor, given CEO Jed York’s comments last Monday about the competitive nature of this offseason in coaching searches around the NFL.
The first-year coach was fired Jan. 3 immediately after a season-ending, 19-16 overtime win against St. Louis that left the team at 5-11.
Jackson, 50, went 8-8 coaching the Raiders in 2011. He has the wide-ranging experience that will appeal to York and general manager Trent Baalke, who promoted Tomsula from his defensive line duties to the head spot last January to replace now-Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. In other coaching news: ■ Chiefs offensive coordinator Doug Pederson interviewed with the Eagles for their head coaching vacancy.
Pederson is the fifth candidate to interview for the job. Also, additional reports surfaced saying that former Giants coach Tom Coughlin would interview with Philadelphia.
Eagles running backs coach Duce Staley and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur and Giants offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo also interviewed, along with former Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase, who took the job in Miami.
■ The Browns interviewed Carolina defensive coordinator Sean McDermott for their head coaching job. McDermott is the sixth candidate to meet with the search committee.
■ Bills coach Rex Ryan hired his twin brother Rob, who will serve as assistant head coach with a specific responsibility for defense. Rob Ryan was available after being fired as New Orleans defensive coordinator in mid-November.
Etc: The Bills gave general manager Doug Whaley a contract extension. … The Lions named Ernie Accorsi as special advisor to club President Rod Wood. He previously served as a consultant.