Mike Vrabel turned down Chip Kelly, and Kelly turned down Eric Mangini.
Ten days after Kelly was hired as 49ers head coach, the assistant-coaching position seen as the major piece to his staff remains vacant. The 49ers have most positions filled on their staff, but defensive coordinator remains vacant.
Vrabel decided to remain as linebackers coach of the Houston Texans, while Mangini interviewed to retain the position he held last year on Jim Tomsula’s staff before he was reportedly removed from consideration on Friday.
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[RELATED: Report: Mangini fired as 49ers defensive coordinator]
Jason Tarver remains as the top in-house candidate to run the 49ers’ defense. Tarver served three seasons as the Raiders’ defensive coordinator under Dennis Allen. In his first season, the Raiders improved from 29th overall before he arrived to No. 18 in the NFL in 2012. The 49ers ranked 21st in his final season before Tomsula hired him as senior defensive assistant/linebackers.
Others who have been identified as potential candidates are Don Martindale, the Baltimore Ravens’ inside llinebackers coach of the past four seasons, and former Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil, whom Bleacher Report on Sunday reported someone who has drawn Kelly’s interest.
The 49ers have not made any official announcements of additions to Kelly’s coaching staff because the team says no contracts have been officially signed. On Friday, the 49ers hired former Detroit running backs coach/run-game coordinator Curtis Modkins as offensive coordinator, according to ESPN. The team also expected to hire former Chicago assistant special teams coach Derius Swinton to become special-teams coordinator, reported the Sacramento Bee.
San Francisco 49ers
Here is a look at the 49ers’ coaching staff under Jim Tomsula and how things are shaping up under Kelly:
2015 STAFF
Position: Coach (current status)
Coach: Jim Tomsula (fired)
Offensive coordinator: Geep Chryst (fired)
Quarterbacks: Steve Logan (fired)
Running backs: Tom Rathman (retained)
Wide receivers: Adam Henry (N.Y. Giants receivers)/Ronald Curry (fired)
Tight ends: Tony Sparano (Vikings offensive line)
Offensive line: Chris Foerster (Dolphins offensive line)
Defensive coordinator: Eric Mangini (fired)
Defensive line: Scott Brown (fired)
Outside linebackers: Jason Tarver (TBA)
Inside linebackers: Clancy Pendergast (USC defensive coordinator)
Defensive backs: Tim Lewis (fired)
Special teams: Thomas McGaughey (TBA)
2016 STAFF
Position: Coach (2015 position)
Coach: Chip Kelly (Eagles/head coach)
Offensive coordinator: Curtis Modkins (Lions/run game coordinator)
Quarterbacks: Ryan Day (Eagles/quarterbacks)
Running backs: Tom Rathman (49ers/running backs)
Wide receivers: Bob Bicknell (Eagles/wide receivers)
Tight ends: TBA
Offensive line: Pat Flaherty (N.Y. Giants/offensive line)
Defensive coordinator: TBA
Defensive line: Jerry Azzinaro (Eagles/defensive line)
Outside linebackers: TBA
Inside linebackers: Hardy Nickerson (Buccaneers/linebackers)
Defensive backs: TBA
Special teams: Derius Swinton (Bears/assistant special teams)