Richard Hightower-Chicago Bears Special Teams Coach

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by Hawaii49er:
Let's hope Bisaccia doesn't sign with the Pack. He may be a good one.

Its a done deal. I'm more bummed that Chris Tabor joined up with Carolina. He's been one of the top three or four special teams coaches in football over the past 15 years.

Remember Bubba Ventrone?
He's the special teams coordinator for the Colts now, and the #2 ranked special teams unit in the NFL.

Where did you see it as being official?

Originally posted by Niners99:
Yes!! Hightower gone. Glad to see Kyle isn't afraid to replace his friends if they aren't cutting it.

Hightower and Kyle went to college together. They were football teammates at UT. They had way more than just a casual connection and Kyle still let him walk. Shanahan is ruthless.

Originally posted by NCommand:

Shanahan said that he wants the punt returner to be one of the WRs or CB who made the 53 because he doesn't want to carve out an extra roster spot.

Then he said, with a smile: "I think you can figure it out."

Related note: Brandon Aiyuk is on the 49ers' 53-man roster

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) September 1, 2021

Fair Katch King.

For those dreaming of drafting a returner

Here's a random name that I haven't seen mentioned that might be available in light of Sean Payton's retirement. Darren Rizzi. He's been one of the elite special teams coordinators in football throughout his time with Miami and New Orleans.

Units that Rizzi has coordinated the past ten seasons are ranked first in the NFL over that period with 12 blocked punts and second in the league with 24 total blocked kicks. Since entering the NFL in 2008, five special teams players have been named to six Pro Bowls, including return specialist Deonte Harris and kicker Will Lutz in 2019. He has coached six players to the NFL All-Rookie team in the past eight years, including Harris in 2019. Rizzi's units have served in the top half of NFL writer Rick Gosselin's annual special teams rankings in all ten years that he has served as a coordinator, including first in 2019 and fifth in 2020.

Originally posted by ChaunceyGardner:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Shanahan said that he wants the punt returner to be one of the WRs or CB who made the 53 because he doesn't want to carve out an extra roster spot.

Then he said, with a smile: "I think you can figure it out."

Related note: Brandon Aiyuk is on the 49ers' 53-man roster

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) September 1, 2021

Fair Katch King.

For those dreaming of drafting a returner

I guess Dre Kirkpatrick and Josh Norman were not considered an EXTRA roster spot... we still have not gotten a true returner since Teddy Ginn and this is why we've been average at this part of the team.. from Taylor to Ritchie to Reed and to Yuck, all been a ... like NC post.. FKK..

I'm not saying to draft one, but we need to find a returner even if we open up a spot on the roster for that... it may just end up helping us get a good field position and make it easier for young Baby Face Lance to handle a game situation..

How much did we have to pay the Bears?

Originally posted by ChaunceyGardner:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Shanahan said that he wants the punt returner to be one of the WRs or CB who made the 53 because he doesn't want to carve out an extra roster spot.

Then he said, with a smile: "I think you can figure it out."

Related note: Brandon Aiyuk is on the 49ers' 53-man roster

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) September 1, 2021

Fair Katch King.

For those dreaming of drafting a returner

They can still draft a speedy WR that can return kicks.

I'd say bring in the cowboys special teams coach from the 90s that looked like Doc from Back to the Future but apparently he died in 2012.

Originally posted by Hawaii49er:
Let's hope Bisaccia doesn't sign with the Pack. He may be a good one.

Kyle and Richard Bisaccia were on the same Tampa Bay staff at one point so there is familiarity there.

Originally posted by rapid4:
How much did we have to pay the Bears?

Hopefully he takes Mitch with him.

Originally posted by Willisfn4life:
Kyle and Richard Bisaccia were on the same Tampa Bay staff at one point so there is familiarity there.

John Lynch was still playing for Tampa when Bisaccia got there.

From what Packers beat writers are saying, they are pretty deep in the contract discussions stages with him so it sounds like he's off the table although who knows, the 49ers job becoming suddenly available might change things.

Originally posted by btthepunk:

Originally posted by ChaunceyGardner:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Shanahan said that he wants the punt returner to be one of the WRs or CB who made the 53 because he doesn't want to carve out an extra roster spot.

Then he said, with a smile: "I think you can figure it out."

Related note: Brandon Aiyuk is on the 49ers' 53-man roster

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) September 1, 2021

Fair Katch King.

For those dreaming of drafting a returner

They can still draft a speedy WR that can return kicks.

His name is Calvin Austin III

Originally posted by 49ers808:
His name is Calvin Austin III

Austin would solve a lot of problems on both offense and special teams.