New England Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio has reportedly declined to interview with the San Francisco 49ers for their general manager opening, per Pro Football Talk.
#49ers GM search update: #Patriots Nick Caserio declined to interview, per @ProFootballTalk on @SNFonNBC
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) January 8, 2017
Caserio has been with New England since 2001 and has held the role of director of player personnel since 2008. He has been a name that has been unofficially linked to the 49ers because of their interest in New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who interviewed with the team today at a location near the Patriots facility. The 49ers were among three teams that McDaniels interviewed with today within an 11-hour timespan. The others were the Los Angeles Rams and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
"The decision will prompt speculation that Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is less likely to take the job in San Francisco," wrote Pro Football Talk. "However, the elimination of Caserio could make it more likely that the 49ers would be inclined to offer final say to the coach — which could make the job more attractive to McDaniels."
On Friday, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reported that McDaniels is very interested in the 49ers' head coach opening. "The 49ers, who are the only team with a general-manager opening, are appealing to McDaniels because of their clean-slate situation and CEO Jed York's stated commitment to patiently rebuilding," wrote Branch. "It's believed the 49ers' status as a marquee franchise, despite their recent free-fall, also makes them more attractive than Los Angeles and Jacksonville."
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McDaniels declined to interview with the 49ers in 2011. However, he did talk to the team in 2015 prior to San Francisco going forward with Jim Tomsula as their head coach – a marriage, like the one that followed with Chip Kelly, that would last only one year.
Many felt that a pairing of Caserio and McDaniels made a lot of sense because the pair has worked together for years. However, that does not make the Caserio the only executive that the team feels would be a good match with McDaniels. The 49ers have made it known that they would prefer a head coach and general manager that have good communication. The list of candidates so far has led many to assume that the team is looking for a pair that has worked together in the past or that seem as though they would be a good fit with one another.
Chris Ballard Update
During the same report, Pro Football Talk revealed that Kansas City Chiefs director of football operations Chris Ballard didn't decline to interview with the 49ers as originally reported. The Chiefs actually blocked the meeting request by San Francisco.