Six teams exited the 2016 offseason with head coaching vacancies and only one is left. The San Francisco 49ers remain as the only team with an opening at head coach and have been the only team with an opening at general manager.
Surprisingly, the 49ers' patience has not hurt them. The two top head coach candidates remain available and the 49ers will likely have their pick of either. Those two would be New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, the favorite to become the 49ers' newest head coach, and Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. However, neither can be hired since their current teams remain in the playoffs. Both the Patriots and the Falcons host postseason games on Saturday.
For now, the 49ers will be focusing on the search for a new general manager and will meet with Arizona Cardinals vice president of player personnel Terry McDonough on Friday. He is a respected executive and former 49ers head coach Mike Nolan recently praised him on KNBR when asked to suggest a name for the job. Future Hall of Fame wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald also gave McDonough a strong endorsement.
My guy Terry McDonough is interviewing for the GM job of our arch rivals @49ers. None the less he's truly deserving.
— Larry Fitzgerald (@LarryFitzgerald) January 13, 2017
McDonough has scouted in the NFL for 25 years and has been with the Cardinals for four years. He was promoted to vice president of player personnel in January of 2014 and currently oversees both the college and pro personnel departments while assisting with player contract negotiations. Prior to that, McDonough was the director of player personnel for the Jacksonville Jaguars and was part of the Cleveland Browns front office that relocated to Baltimore and became the Ravens. Interestingly enough, McDonough was an intern with the 49ers in 1989 – where his NFL career started.
You can keep track of the entire search using our up-to-date head coach and general manager tracker. It is the first time that the organization is trying to fill both spots since 2005 when the 49ers hired Mike Nolan and then Scot McCloughan. The search and interview process is being led by Jed York and Chief Strategy Officer & Executive Vice President of Football Operations Paraag Marathe.
Below is a list of the upcoming interview schedule and the meetings that have already occurred.
Upcoming Interviews
Friday, January 13
Arizona Cardinals vice president of player personnel Terry McDonough (GM)
Sunday, January 15
Seattle Seahawks assistant head coach and offensive line coach Tom Cable (HC)
Monday, January 16
Seattle Seahawks co-director of player personnel Trent Kirchner (GM)
Seattle Seahawks co-director of player personnel Scott Fitterer (GM)
Hired by Other Teams
Buffalo Bills
Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott *
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph **
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars interim head coach Doug Marrone
Los Angeles Chargers
Buffalo Bills interim head coach Anthony Lynn *
Los Angeles Rams
Washington Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay *
* Interviewed with the 49ers
** Scheduled to interviewed with the 49ers
Completed Interviews
Wednesday, January 4
Buffalo Bills interim head coach Anthony Lynn (HC)
Thursday, January 5
Green Bay Packers director of football operations Eliot Wolf (GM)
Green Bay Packers director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst (GM)
Friday, January 6
Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan (HC)
Minnesota Vikings assistant general manager George Paton (GM)
Saturday, January 7
New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels (HC)
Sunday, January 8
Indianapolis Colts vice president of football operations Jimmy Raye III (GM)
Washington Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay (HC)
Carolina Panthers assistant general manager Brandon Beane (GM)
Tuesday, January 10
Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott (HC)
ESPN analyst, former director of pro personnel Louis Riddick (GM)
Cancelled Interviews
Thursday, January 12
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph (HC)
Hired by the Denver Broncos
