49ers Coaching Staff: Rumors Afloat of New Coaching Staff

Less than one week on the job and Jim Harbaugh has met with most of the assistants to discuss their future. Although, with the CBA in question, it could be a long time before the coaches actually coach the players Harbaugh is still getting a move on putting together his staff. Harbaugh has some options on his current staff that he may want to keep but all indications is that he told both of the current coordinators, Mike Johnson and Greg Manusky, that they are welcome to look for other coaching jobs because he would be looking elsewhere to fill their current roles.

Greg Manusky got his job search started off early last weekend when he interviewed for the Carolina Panthers’ head coaching job, which ultimately was given to Chargers’ defensive coordinator Ron Rivera. Manusky has also interviewed with the Arizona Cardinals and has an interview scheduled with the Dallas Cowboys to interview for defensive coordinator.

Manusky’s counterpart, Mike Johnson, has been busy looking for a job as well. According to BruinsNation.com, Mike Johnson has already found that new job as the new offensive coordinator for UCLA. Johnson was offered a job by Harbaugh to stay with the 49ers but it was not as the offensive coordinator. The report is very interesting since the current OC, Norm Chow, has not been fired but has reportedly agreed to a job with the Utah Utes.

There have been some rumors as to Harbaugh’s new assistants but nothing has been announced by the 49ers. It has been reported that Harbaugh is looking to bring both his offensive coordinator, David Shaw, and his defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, from Stanford to the 49ers. The 49ers is not Fangio’s only suitor though. According to Adam Schefter, Fangio has spoken to the Cowboys about their coordinator position and he is also thought to be in the running to replace Harbaugh at Stanford. David Shaw is also in the running to replace Harbaugh at Stanford.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee is reporting that former USF coach Jim Leavitt is being discussed as the new linebackers coach for the 49ers. Leavitt was fired last January for allegedly grabbing a player by the throat and then hitting him in the face. If Leavitt takes over as the linebackers coach that would likely leave current linebackers coach and longtime assistant Jason Tarver without a job. Tarver has been with the team since 2001 so I would assume that he could get another job with the team, maybe coaching another position.

I expect the 49ers to start offering the new assistants contracts and announcements by the team being made by the end of next week. I would think that Harbaugh would want his staff put together before the Senior Bowl.