Our coaching tracker, which followed the interests, interviews, and hirings by the 49ers, can by found here. Here is a list of the new coaching staff that will work with head coach Chip Kelly to get the team prepared for the new season.
| Position | Name | Last Team (Position) |
| Head coach | Chip Kelly | Eagles (head coach) |
| Offensive coordinator | Curtis Modkins | Lions (running backs) |
| Quarterbacks | Ryan Day | Eagles (quarterbacks) |
| Running backs | Tom Rathman | 49ers (running backs) |
| Wide eeceivers | Bob Bicknell | Eagles (wide receivers) |
| Tight ends | Jeff Nixon | Dolphins (running backs) |
| Offensive line | Pat Flaherty | Giants (offensive line) |
| Defensive coordinator | Jim O'Neil | Browns (defensive coordinator) |
| Defensive line | Jerry Azzinaro | Eagles (defensive line) |
| Inside linebackers | Hardy Nickerson | Buccaneers (linebackers) |
| Outside Linebackers | Jason Tarver | 49ers (outside linebackers) |
| Defensive Backs | Jeff Hafley | Browns (secondary) |
| Special Teams | Derius Swinton | Bears (assistant special teams) |
Head Coach Chip Kelly
The former Philadelphia Eagles head coach interviewed with the 49ers on January 7 and, seven days later, was officially hired as the team's new head coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Oregon from 2009 to 2012, compiling a 46-7 record. He led the Ducks to two Bowl wins over his college coaching career, winning the 2012 Rose Bowl and the 2013 Fiesta Bowl.
Kelly became the head coach of the Eagles in 2013 and had a 26-22 record before being fired on December 29 following a 6-9 2015 season. However, the Eagles finished with a 10-6 record during each of his previous two seasons.
Prior to Kelly's hiring in San Francisco, the 49ers had met with Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, who is now the head coach of the Cleveland Browns, former New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, Buffalo Bills assistant head coach and running backs coach Anthony Lynn, Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, who is now the quarterbacks coach for the Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator and now head coach Dirk Koetter, and former Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan.
Prior to his hiring, writer Al Sacco examined the pros and cons of a bringing Kelly aboard. Mark Saltveit, author of "The Tao of Chip Kelly" and "Controlled Chaos: Chip Kelly's Football Revolution," wrote an excellent piece for The Mercury News examining the new 49ers coach's methodology.
| Eagles Offensive Stats per Game (Rank) | ||||
| Year | Scoring | Total Yards | Passing | Rushing |
| 2013 | 27.6 (4) | 417.3 (2) | 256.9 (9) | 160.4 (1) |
| 2014 | 29.6 (3) | 396.8 (5) | 272.3 (6) | 124.5 (9) |
| 2015 | 23.6 (12) | 239.4 (12) | 255.4 (12) | 108.9 (14) |
| Eagles Defensive Stats per Game (Rank) | ||||
| Year | Points Allowed | Total Yards | Passing | Rushing |
| 2013 | 23.4 (17) | 394.0 (29) | 289.8 (32) | 104.3 (10) |
| 2014 | 25.0 (22) | 375.6 (28) | 264.9 (31) | 110.7 (15) |
| 2015 | 26.9 (28) | 401.6 (30) | 267.1 (28) | 134.6 (32) |
Offensive Coordinator Curtis Modkins
It was reported that Modkins would become the 49ers' offensive coordinator on January 22. He has been a running backs coach with the Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals, and Detroit Lions. He also served as the Buffalo Bills' offensive coordinator from 2010 through 2012. The Bills' rushing yards improved over each of his three seasons there. During head coach Chip Kelly's introductory press conference, he jokingly said, "I'm going to call the good plays and I'm going to have the offensive coordinator call the bad ones."
Of course, according to himself, Kelly will be "the guy on the sideline calling the plays" so Modkins' role may be more limited than typical offensive coordinators. He will likely be heavily involved in game preparation.
The other candidate for the job was Bills assistant head coach and running backs coach Anthony Lynn, who interviewed for the position.
| Bills Offensive Stats per Game (Rank) | ||||
| Year | Scoring | Total Yards | Passing | Rushing |
| 2010 | 17.7 (28) | 304.9 (25) | 197.4 (24) | 107.5 (18) |
| 2011 | 23.3 (14) | 351.5 (14) | 231.4 (15) | 120.1 (13) |
| 2012 | 21.5 (21) | 342.8 (19) | 204.3 (25) | 132.3 (6) |
Defensive Coordinator Jim O'Neil
It was reported that O'Neil would become the 49ers' defensive coordinator on January 26. He was hired by the Browns in January of 2014 and then let go earlier this month. His NFL coaching experience includes stops with the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills.
O'Neil was a bit of a surprising hire given his reputation in Cleveland. While he is described as energetic, his results with the Browns were mixed and much of the fan blame for the team's defensive woes fell on his shoulders. Although, the argument could be made that he had very little to work with in Cleveland.
Other candidates for the job included 49ers linebackers coach Jason Tarver, who will remain as the team's outside linebackers coach, and Baltimore Ravens linebackers coach Don Martindale. Texans linebackers coach Mike Vrabel had been offered the job, but turned down the 49ers to remain in Houston. Even 2015 defensive coordinator Eric Mangini was considered a strong candidate prior to his firing.
It was reported today that Texans secondary coach John Butler also interviewed for the job prior to O'Neil's hiring.
| Browns Defensive Stats per Game (Rank) | ||||
| Year | Points Allowed | Total Yards | Passing | Rushing |
| 2014 | 21.1 (9) | 366.1 (23) | 366.1 (23) | 141.6 (32) |
| 2015 | 27.0 (29) | 379.2 (27) | 250.8 (22) | 128.4 (30) |
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Recap: 49ers display top form in dominant 38-13 victory over Bears
The San Francisco 49ers still face long odds to make the postseason this year after three months of injuries and inconsistent play, but for at least one half of football against the Chicago Bears at Levi's Stadium on Sunday, they looked more than any other point this season... -
49ers mailbag: What do the 49ers have left in the tank for the last four games? Will SF bring back Robert Saleh? Can Brock Purdy beat good teams?
It's always a big week when the San Francisco 49ers play the Los Angeles Rams. In 2021, the rivalry became even bigger when the 49ers had to win in the season's final week, in Los Angeles, to make it into the playoffs. On Thursday night, the 49ers must win again to keep their... -
Sidelined 49ers: Who's out against the Rams?
As the San Francisco 49ers prepare for their Thursday night NFC West showdown against the Los Angeles Rams, there remains uncertainty around linebacker Dre Greenlaw's status. While he is expected to play, the team has yet to announce whether he will be activated off the... -
49ers vs. Bears final injury report: Williams won't play, Bosa doubtful
The San Francisco 49ers are preparing for their Week 14 contest against the Chicago Bears on Sunday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Both teams have released their official injury reports, which are provided below. San Francisco 49ers Out LB Dre Greenlaw...